(a)        Continuation of insurance under the group policy for any person shall terminate on the earliest of the following dates:

(1)        The date 18 months after the date the employee‘s or member’s insurance under the policy would otherwise have terminated because of termination of employment or members;

(2)        The date ending the period for which the employee or member last makes his required contribution, if he discontinues his contributions;

(3)        The date the employee or member becomes or is eligible to become covered for similar benefits under any arrangement of coverage for individuals in a group, whether insured or uninsured;

(4)        The date on which the group policy is terminated or, in the case of a multiple employer plan, the date his employer terminates participation under the group master policy. When this occurs the employee or member shall have the privilege described in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-53-45 if the date of termination precedes that on which his actual continuation of insurance under that policy would have terminated. The insurer that insured the group before the date of termination shall make a converted policy available to the employee or member.

(b)        Notwithstanding subdivision (a)(4) of this section, if the employer replaces the group policy with another group policy, the employee is entitled to continue under the successor group policy for any unexpired period of continuation to which the employee is entitled. (1981, c. 706, s. 1; 1983, c. 142, s. 2; 1993, c. 529, s. 3.8; 1997-259, s. 12.)