PRIA Logo™
Take the PRIA Score
Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§300bb–6 Notice requirements

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XX— - REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN GROUP HEALTH PLANS FOR CERTAIN STATE AND LOCAL EMPLOYEES › § 300bb–6

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Under rules set by the Secretary, group health plans must give each covered employee and the employee’s spouse a written notice about continuation coverage rights when coverage starts. Employers must tell the plan administrator about certain qualifying events (the law’s types 1, 2, or 4) within 30 days. A covered employee or other qualified beneficiary must tell the plan administrator about other qualifying events (types 3 or 5) within 60 days. If a beneficiary is found disabled by Social Security during the first 60 days of continuation coverage, they must notify the plan administrator within 60 days of that decision and must notify within 30 days if Social Security later finds they are no longer disabled. The plan administrator must notify qualified beneficiaries about qualifying events: it must send notice for events of types 1, 2, and 4, and it must send notice for events of types 3 or 5 when the covered employee has given the required notice.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §300bb–6

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary—
(1)the group health plan shall provide, at the time of commencement of coverage under the plan, written notice to each covered employee and spouse of the employee (if any) of the rights provided under this subsection,11 So in original. Probably should be “subchapter”.
(2)the employer of an employee under a plan must notify the plan administrator of a qualifying event described in paragraph (1), (2), or (4) of section 300bb–3 of this title within 30 days of the date of the qualifying event,
(3)each covered employee or qualified beneficiary is responsible for notifying the plan administrator of the occurrence of any qualifying event described in paragraph (3) or (5) of section 300bb–3 of this title within 60 days after the date of the qualifying event and each qualified beneficiary who is determined, under title II or XVI of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 401 et seq., 1381 et seq.], to have been disabled at any time during the first 60 days of continuation coverage under this subchapter is responsible for notifying the plan administrator of such determination within 60 days after the date of the determination and for notifying the plan administrator within 30 days after the date of any final determination under such title or titles that the qualified beneficiary is no longer disabled, and
(4)the plan administrator shall notify—
(A)in the case of a qualifying event described in paragraph (1), (2), or (4) of section 300bb–3 of this title, any qualified beneficiary with respect to such event, and
(B)in the case of a qualifying event described in paragraph (3) or (5) of section 300bb–3 of this title where the covered employee notifies the plan administrator under paragraph (3), any qualified beneficiary with respect to such event,

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Social Security Act, referred to in par. (3), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act are classified generally to subchapters II (§ 401 et seq.) and XVI (§ 1381 et seq.), respectively, of chapter 7 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1996—Par. (3). Pub. L. 104–191 substituted “at any time during the first 60 days of continuation coverage under this subchapter” for “at the time of a qualifying event described in section 300bb–3(2) of this title”. 1989—Par. (3). Pub. L. 101–239 inserted “and each qualified beneficiary who is determined, under title II or XVI of the Social Security Act, to have been disabled at the time of a qualifying event described in section 300bb–3(2) of this title is responsible for notifying the plan administrator of such determination within 60 days after the date of the determination and for notifying the plan administrator within 30 days after the date of any final determination under such title or titles that the qualified beneficiary is no longer disabled” after “date of the qualifying event”. 1987—Par. (3). Pub. L. 100–203 amended directory language of Pub. L. 99–514, see 1986 Amendment note below. 1986—Par. (3). Pub. L. 99–514, as amended by Pub. L. 100–203, inserted “within 60 days after the date of the qualifying event”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–191 effective Jan. 1, 1997, regardless of whether the qualifying event occurred before, on, or after such date, see section 421(d) of Pub. L. 104–191, set out as a note under section 4980B of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.

Effective Date

of 1989 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 101–239 applicable to plan years beginning on or after Dec. 19, 1989, regardless of whether the qualifying event occurred before, on, or after such date, see section 6702(d) of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 300bb–2 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1987 Amendment Pub. L. 100–203, title IV, § 4009(j)(8), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–59, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective as if included in Pub. L. 99–514.

Effective Date

of 1986 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 99–514 applicable only with respect to qualifying events occurring after Oct. 22, 1986, see section 1895(d)(6)(D) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 162 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code. Notification to Covered Employees Pub. L. 99–272, title X, § 10003(c), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 236, provided that: “At the time that the

Amendments

made by this section [enacting this subchapter] apply to a group health plan (covered under section 2201 of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 300bb–1]), the plan shall notify each covered employee, and spouse of the employee (if any), who is covered under the plan at that time of the continuation coverage required under title XXII of such Act [42 U.S.C. 300bb–1 et seq.]. The notice furnished under this subsection is in lieu of notice that may otherwise be required under section 2206(1) of such Act [42 U.S.C. 300bb–6(1)] with respect to such individuals.”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 300bb–6

Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73