California Code, Insurance Code - INS § 10128.51

(a) “Continuation coverage” means extended coverage under the group benefit plan under which an eligible employee or eligible dependent is currently covered, or, in the case of a termination of the group benefit plan or an employer open enrollment period, extended coverage under the group benefit plan currently offered by the employer.

(b) “Group benefit plan” has the same meaning as “health benefit plan” defined in Section 10700, including group policies of vision-only and dental-only coverage, provided pursuant to Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 10700) to an employer with 2 to 19 eligible employees, as defined in Section 10700.

(d) “Qualifying event” means any of the following events that, but for the election of continuation coverage under this article, would result in a loss of coverage under the group benefit plan to a qualified beneficiary:

(e) “Employer” means any employer that meets the definition of “small employer” as set forth in Section 10700 and (1) employed 2 to 19 eligible employees on at least 50 percent of its working days during the preceding calendar year, or, if the employer was not in business during any part of the preceding calendar year, employed 2 to 19 eligible employees on at least 50 percent of its working days during the preceding calendar quarter, (2) has contracted for health care coverage through a group benefit plan offered by a disability insurer, and (3) is not subject to Section 4980B of the United States Internal Revenue Code 2 or Chapter 18 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. Section 1161 et seq.

(f) “Core coverage” means coverage for hospital, medical, or surgical benefits provided under the group benefit plan that a qualified beneficiary was receiving immediately prior to the qualifying event, other than noncore coverage.

(g) “Noncore coverage” means coverage for vision and dental care.