When must Coverage start?

[Guest Kathleen Toth]

I have some questions about how early payroll deductions can start in relation to the effective date of the coverage the deduction is paying for. Looking at the regulations, it appears to me that payroll deductions should not start in advance of the effective date of coverage, but I am being told that "the industry" does not always operate that way. Is it permissable to collect payroll deductions for 30 or 60 days in advance of when coverage under the policy will commence? If so, is that only true for certain types of policies? Are there any regulations covering this specific issue beyond such things as only amounts not yet earned can be committed to paying premiums (at the time of election of coverage) and no retroactive coverage?

Thanks for any insight you can offer.