Part 11 – Group Policy (continued) WORDS IN ITALICS ARE EXPLAINED IN PART 2. Page 102 to continue group coverage as provided by COBRA or under Massachusetts state law. A retired employee and/or the surviving spouse of a deceased retired employee may enroll for lifetime continued group coverage as of the date of the bankruptcy proceeding, provided that the loss of group eligibility occurs within one year before the date on which the bankruptcy proceeding begins. Or, if group eligibility is lost within one year after the date on which the bankruptcy proceeding begins, they may enroll for lifetime continued group coverage as of the date group eligibility is lost. Spouses and/or eligible dependents of these retired employees may enroll for continued group coverage until the retired employee dies. Once the retired employee dies, their surviving spouse and/or eligible dependents may enroll for up to an additional 36 months of continued group coverage beyond the date of the retired employee’s death. Lifetime continued coverage in this health plan for retired employees will end if the group cancels its agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO Blue to provide its group members with coverage in this health plan under a group contract or for any of the other reasons described below. (See “Termination of Continued Group Coverage.”) Enrollment for Continued Group Coverage In order to enroll for continued group coverage in this health plan, you must complete an Election Form. The completed election form must be returned to the office at the address on the form. The form must be returned within 60 days from your date of termination of group coverage or your notification of eligibility, whichever is later. If you do not return the completed form, it will be considered a waiver. And, you will not be allowed to continue coverage in this health plan under a group contract. (The 60 days will be counted from the date of the eligibility notice to the postmarked date of the mailed election form.) Termination of Continued Group Coverage Your continued group coverage will end when:  The length of time allowed for continued group coverage is reached (for example, 18 months or 29 months or 36 months from the qualifying event).  You fail to make timely payment of your premiums.  You enroll in another employer sponsored health plan and that plan does not include pre-existing condition limitations or waiting periods.  You become entitled to Medicare benefits.  You are no longer disabled (if your continued group coverage had been extended because of disability.)  The group terminates its agreement with Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO Blue (or the Massachusetts Health Connector) to provide its group members with access to health care services and benefits under this health plan. In this case, health care coverage may continue under another health plan. Contact your plan sponsor or Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO Blue for more information. Medicare Program When you are eligible for Medicare and Medicare is allowed by federal law to be the primary payor, the coverage provided by this health plan will be reduced by the amount of benefits allowed under Medicare for the same covered services. This reduction will be made whether or not you actually receive the benefits from Medicare. Under Age 65 with End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) If you are under age 65 and are eligible for Medicare only because of ESRD (permanent kidney failure), the benefits of this health plan will be provided before Medicare benefits. This is the case only during the