408:17 Continuation of Coverage During Labor Disputes. –
Any employee whose compensation includes group life insurance, the premiums for which are paid in full or in part by an employer, including the state of New Hampshire, its political subdivisions, or municipal corporations, or paid by payroll deduction, may pay the premiums as they become due directly to the policyholder whenever the employee's compensation is suspended or terminated directly or indirectly, as the result of a strike, lockout, or other labor dispute, for a period not exceeding 6 months and at the rate and coverages as the policy provides.
I. During said 6-month period, the policy may not be altered or changed, except that nothing in this section shall be deemed to impair the right of the insurer to make normal decreases or increases of the premium rate upon expiration and renewal of the policy, in accordance with the provisions of the policy.
II. When the employee's compensation is so suspended or terminated, the employee shall be notified immediately by the policyholder in writing, by mail addressed to the last address on record with the policyholder, that the employee may pay the premiums to the policyholder as they become due as provided in this section.
III. The policyholder shall remit any premiums paid by the employees on a timely basis to the insurer.
IV. Nothing herein shall be deemed to require the continuation of any such group coverage to any individual employee beyond the time that he or she takes full-time employment with another employer, nor shall anything herein be deemed to require continuation of the group coverage more than 6 months after compensation is suspended or terminated as the result of a labor dispute, nor to require the insurer to continue coverage as to any employee for whose coverage premiums have not been remitted in accordance with the provisions of the policy.
V. After said 6-month period, if the group insurance coverage is no longer available, then the employee shall have the right to convert to an individual policy in accordance with the provisions of RSA 408:15, IV.