At termination, an employer notifies a Dayton employee of the right to continue group medical coverage under ORC 3923.38. The employee's written election and first contribution must reach the employer no later than:

Why A is correct

Under ORC 3923.38, the employee's written election plus the first contribution must reach the employer no later than the earliest of 31 days after the coverage would otherwise terminate, 10 days after termination if notice was given before termination, or 10 days after the post-termination notice. Because this employer gave notice at termination, the deadline is the earliest of the 31-day measure measured from the end of coverage or the 10-day measure measured from the notice.

Why the other options are wrong

• B) 12 months is the maximum continuation period under ORC 3923.38, not the election deadline.
• C) 18 months is a federal COBRA figure and bears no relation to the Ohio election deadline.
• D) The election clock under ORC 3923.38 runs from the end of coverage and the required notice, not from when the employee finds new work.

Memory hook

Elect early: earliest of 31 days after coverage ends or 10 days after notice.