Short answer: Louisiana’s group continuation statute (R.S. 22:1046) does not impose a COBRA-style notice duty or deadline. The election form is provided by the group policyholder (the employer or group), and the individual must elect continuation and pay the first premium by the end of the month following the qualifying event.
Unlike federal COBRA, Louisiana’s group health continuation statute (La. R.S. 22:1046) does not designate a party to send a continuation notice or set a fixed notice deadline. Instead, it sets out how an individual elects to continue coverage.
To continue coverage, the employee or member must make a written election on a form provided by the group policyholder, and pay the first contribution in advance to the policyholder or employer no later than the end of the month following the month in which the qualifying event (termination of active employment, death, or divorce) occurs.
Because the statute does not require a separate continuation notice and the election window is short, individuals should contact the employer or group policyholder promptly after a loss of coverage. The premium for continued coverage may not exceed the full group rate (100% of the premium), and a person who is eligible for federal COBRA must use COBRA rather than Louisiana state continuation.