1.  Requirement.  Every insurer which issues group health care contracts providing coverage for hospital care to residents of this State shall make available to groups of 20 or more persons, at the option of the policyholder, benefits as required by this section to any certificate holder or other person covered under those contracts for the expense of cardiac rehabilitation.  

2.  Cardiac rehabilitation.  "Cardiac rehabilitation" means multidisciplinary, medically necessary treatment of persons with documented cardiovascular disease, which shall be provided in either a hospital or other setting. That treatment shall include outpatient treatment which is initiated within 26 weeks after the diagnosis of that disease and physician-recommended continuance of Phase II rehabilitation services for up to 36 sessions in a hospital or community-based setting and up to 36 Phase III sessions in a community-based setting.  

3.  Limitations.  Benefits required to be made available pursuant to this section may be made subject to any reasonable limitation, maximum benefit, coinsurance, deductible or exclusion provisions applicable to overall benefits under the policy or certificate.  

4.  Application.  The requirements of this section shall apply to all policies and certificates executed, delivered, issued for delivery, continued or renewed in this State on or after January 1, 1988. For purposes of this section only, all group policies shall be deemed to be renewed no later than the next yearly anniversary of the contract date.