(a) Every group benefit plan contract between a disability insurer and an employer subject to this article that is issued, amended, or renewed on or after July 1, 1998, shall require the employer to notify the insurer in writing of any employee who has had a qualifying event, as defined in paragraph (2) of subdivision (d) of Section 10128.51, within 30 days of the qualifying event. The group contract shall also require the employer to notify the insurer, in writing, within 30 days of the date when the employer becomes subject to Section 4980B of the United States Internal Revenue Code or Chapter 18 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. Sec. 1161 et seq. (b) Every group benefit plan contract between a disability insurer and an employer subject to this article that is issued, amended, or renewed after July 1, 1998, shall require the employer to notify qualified beneficiaries currently receiving continuation coverage, whose continuation coverage will terminate under one group benefit plan prior to the end of the period the qualified beneficiary would have remained covered, as specified in Section 10128.57, of the qualified beneficiaryâs ability to continue coverage under a new group benefit plan for the balance of the period the qualified beneficiary would have remained covered under the prior group benefit plan. This notice shall be provided either 30 days prior to the termination or when all enrolled employees are notified, whichever is later. Every disability insurer shall provide to the employer replacing a group benefit plan policy issued by the insurer, or to the employerâs agent or broker representative, within 15 days of any written request, information in possession of the insurer reasonably required to administer the notification requirements of this subdivision and subdivision (c). (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the group benefit plan contract between the insurer and the employer shall require the employer to notify the successor plan in writing of the qualified beneficiaries currently receiving continuation coverage so that the successor plan, or contracting employer or administrator, may provide those qualified beneficiaries with the necessary premium information, enrollment forms, and instructions consistent with the disclosure required by subdivision (c) of Section 10128.54 and subdivision (e) of this section to allow the qualified beneficiary to continue coverage. This information shall be sent to all qualified beneficiaries who are enrolled in the group benefit plan and those qualified beneficiaries who have been notified, pursuant to Section 10128.54 of their ability to continue their coverage and may still elect coverage within the specified 60-day period. This information shall be sent to the qualified beneficiaryâs last known address, as provided to the employer by the health care service plan or, disability insurer currently providing continuation coverage to the qualified beneficiary. The successor insurer shall not be obligated to provide this information to qualified beneficiaries if the employer or prior insurer or health care service plan fails to comply with this section. (d) A disability insurer may contract with an employer, or an administrator, to perform the administrative obligations of the plan as required by this article, including required notifications and collecting and forwarding premiums to the insurer. Except for the requirements of subdivisions (a), (b), and (c), this subdivision shall not be construed to permit an insurer to require an employer to perform the administrative obligations of the insurer as required by this article as a condition of the issuance or renewal of coverage. (e) Every insurer, or employer or administrator that contracts to perform the notice and administrative services pursuant to this section, shall, within 14 days of receiving a notice of a qualifying event, provide to the qualified beneficiary the necessary premium information, e
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