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HR 21 99th Congress House

Continued Access to Group Health Insurance Act of 1985

Official title: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require continuation coverage under group health p… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require continuation coverage under group health plans for certain spouses, former spouses, and dependent children of employees insured under such plans, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 7, 1985 See on congress.gov
Labor and Employment Business and commerceCollective bargaining agreementsDivorceEmployee benefit plans
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FamiliesHealthHealth insuranceIncome taxInsuranceMedicareSeparation (Law)Survivors' benefitsTax deductions
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This bill died when the 99th Congress ended
It never became law before the 99th Congress (1985–1986) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 4, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations.
Feb 7, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Health.
Jan 3, 1985
Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means.
Jan 3, 1985
Referred to House Committee on Education and Labor.
Jan 3, 1985
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 4, 1985

Referred to Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Continued Access to Group Health Insurance Act of 1985 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) to require continuation coverage under group health plans for certain spouses, former spouses, and dependent children of employees insured under such plans.

Makes such continuation coverage a requirement for the allowance of a tax deduction for employer contributions to group health plans.

Provides that the spouse and dependent children of an insured employee may be entitled to five years of continuation coverage under a group health plan if the insured employee: (1) dies; (2) becomes separated or divorced from his or her spouse; or (3) becomes entitled to Medicare.

Makes such coverage available only if it is elected within a specified period by or on behalf of the spouse or child to be covered.

Sets forth notification requirements.

Sets forth a special rule relating to collective bargaining agreements.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 2
D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Feb 7, 1985
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Jan 30, 1985
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 21: Continued Access to Group Health Insurance Act of 1985. 99th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-21/
MLA
"H.R. 21: Continued Access to Group Health Insurance Act of 1985." 99th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-21/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 21, 99th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-21/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 21: Continued Access to Group Health Insurance Act of 1985](https://openamerica.io/bill/99-HR-21/)
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