A notice of discontinuance given by the carrier shall include a request to the group policyholder or other entity involved to notify employees covered under the policy of the date as of which the group policy, contract, or certificate will discontinue and to advise that, unless otherwise provided in the policy, contract, or certificate, the carrier is not liable for claims for losses incurred after the date of discontinuance. The notice of discontinuance also shall advise, in any instance in which the plan involves employee contributions, that if the policyholder or other entity continues to collect contributions for the coverage beyond the date of discontinuance, the policyholder or other entity may be held solely liable for the benefits with respect to which the contributions have been collected.

The carrier shall prepare and furnish to the policyholder or other entity at the same time the carrier gives a notice of discontinuance, a supply of, or access to, notice forms to be distributed to the employees or members concerned, indicating the discontinuance and the effective date of the discontinuance, and urging the employees or members to refer to their certificates or contracts in order to determine what rights, if any, are available to them upon the discontinuance.

Terms Used In South Dakota Codified Laws 58-16-52

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.

Source: SL 2009, ch 261, § 4.