Maryland Life and Health Insurance License Practice Exam

Under a small group health plan, how many days must an insurer provide for a newly-married employee to add their spouse?

1. 30 days

2. 60 days

3. 90 days

4. 120 days

The correct answer is: 60 days

A small group health plan typically provides a timeframe in which newly-married employees can add their spouses to their insurance coverage. In this context, the correct answer indicates that an insurer must allow 60 days for a newly-married employee to make this addition. This provision aligns with common practices in group health insurance plans, where life events such as marriage trigger special enrollment periods. During this 60-day window, employees have the option to apply for coverage for their spouses without having to wait for the next open enrollment period. This ensures that families can benefit from health insurance coverage in a timely manner following significant personal changes like marriage, which is essential for maintaining continuous health coverage. Choosing a longer period, such as 90 or 120 days, would not reflect the standard practices established to provide prompt insurance responses to personal life events. Thus, the 60-day timeframe is in line with the provisions typically found in small group health plans.