§1163 — Title 29 Labor | U.S. Code

§1163 Qualifying Event

Title 29 › Chapter 18— EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT INCOME SECURITY PROGRAM › Subchapter I— PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEE BENEFIT RIGHTS › Subtitle Subtitle B— Regulatory Provisions › Part 6— continuation coverage and additional standards for group health plans › § 1163

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

Names six events that would cause someone to lose plan coverage unless continuation coverage applies: death; termination or reduced hours (not for gross misconduct); divorce or separation; becoming entitled to benefits under title XVIII; a child losing dependent status; and a title 11 bankruptcy case starting on or after July 1, 1986 involving the employer the employee retired from.

Title 29, §1163

Labor — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

For purposes of this part, the term “qualifying event” means, with respect to any covered employee, any of the following events which, but for the continuation coverage required under this part, would result in the loss of coverage of a qualified beneficiary:

(1)The death of the covered employee.

(2)The termination (other than by reason of such employee’s gross misconduct), or reduction of hours, of the covered employee’s employment.

(3)The divorce or legal separation of the covered employee from the employee’s spouse.

(4)The covered employee becoming entitled to benefits under title XVIII of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 1395 et seq.].

(5)A dependent child ceasing to be a dependent child under the generally applicable requirements of the plan.

(6)A proceeding in a case under title 11, commencing on or after July 1, 1986, with respect to the employer from whose employment the covered employee retired at any time.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Social Security Act, referred to in par. (4), is act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, 49 Stat. 620. Title XVIII of the Social Security Act is classified generally to subchapter XVIII (§ 1395 et seq.) of chapter 7 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 1305 of Title 42 and Tables.

Amendments

1986—Pub. L. 99–509 added par. (6) and last sentence.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1986 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 99–509 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in title X of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, Pub. L. 99–272, see section 9501(e) of Pub. L. 99–509, set out as a note under section 162 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.