(a) Any period of previous coverage under the health insurance policy or contract, including a policy or contract executed under Chapter 1551, must be used in full or partial satisfaction of any required probationary or waiting periods provided in the contract for dependent coverage.
(b) If a health insurance policy or contract provides to a group member continuation rights to cover the period between the time the member retires and the time the member is eligible for coverage by Medicare, those same continuation rights must be made available to the group member's dependents.