The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) was created by federal legislation in 1985. This act mandates that most employers offer an opportunity to continue group health plan coverage to employees and eligible family members when there is a “qualifying event” that would result in a loss of coverage under an employer’s plan.
Eligibility
In the case of a loss of coverage due to the end of employment or reduction in hours of employment, coverage generally may be continued only for up to 18 months. An 11-month extension of coverage may be available if any of the qualified beneficiaries is determined under the Social Security Act (SSA) to be disabled. The disability must have started on or before the 60th day of COBRA continuation coverage and must last at least until the end of the 18 months of continuation coverage. In the case of loss of coverage due to an employee’s death, divorce, or legal separation, or a dependent child ceasing to be an eligible dependent under the plan's terms, coverage may be continued for up to a total of 36 months.
All employees and their dependents who had group health plan coverage through the university due to employment are eligible. This includes:
- employed students and their dependents with an RA or TA position
- house staff/fellows and their dependents
- post-doctoral scholars/fellows and
- certain temporary staff
Enrollment and Coverage
Following the termination of your benefit-eligible employment with the university, COBRA information will be mailed to your home address on file. This information is mailed the week following your last day of employment. Please ensure that your address and personal information are up to date to avoid delays.
To enroll in COBRA, you must complete and return the coverage election form within 60 days of the termination of the prior coverage. For events other than termination, you need to contact University Benefits directly. You may choose to remain in the same plan(s) in which you were previously enrolled, or you may change plans within those offered for employees in your employment classification.
COBRA coverage must begin the first of the month following the loss of your other coverage, even if that date is before the Benefits Office receives your election form. There cannot be a lapse of coverage. You will be billed monthly for the premiums and will be given the option of either receiving a university bill or having the premiums automatically deducted from a bank account.
You may only cover dependents covered at the time you became COBRA eligible. In the event of marriage, birth, or adoption, you may add those individuals involved but not other dependents.
Termination
If you decide to terminate coverage before the end of your eligibility period, you will need to provide written notice (an email will suffice) before the date you want coverage canceled. Please include your full name and university identification number. Coverage will end the first of the month after receiving this notification. The University will terminate coverage for non-payment of premiums.