COBRA

Pay COBRA Premium
What is COBRA?

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) requires employers to extend their group health benefits to employees (and their families) who lose health benefits due to specific qualifying events.

How does it benefit me?
  • Allows you to continue your insurance coverage for you and your dependents if you are at risk of losing your health benefits.
  • You have the option to accept or decline coverage and select which dependents to cover.
  • You can pick and choose the benefits you want to continue.
  • Any deductible you met prior in the year will be credited to your COBRA coverage.
What else do I need to know?
  • You are responsible for paying your COBRA premiums.
  • You can elect to drop dependents from COBRA coverage, but you cannot add new dependents until open enrollment (when your former employer’s benefits renew).
  • You will need to find other insurance coverage once your COBRA eligibility ends.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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What do I need to do if I terminate employment and I’m an FSA participant?

You have 60 days after your last day at work to submit claims incurred during the plan year up to your last day worked. After 60 days your run-out period has ended unless you work for a COBRA eligible employer and have elected the FSA as a COBRA benefit. NOTE: The 2.5 month extension or $500 carry-over balance does not apply if you terminated employment.

What happens if I remain on COBRA until the end of my 18 or 36 months of eligibility?

You cannot stay on COBRA after your eligibility period ends. You must find other coverage. You will be mailed a Conversion Letter six months before the end of your COBRA eligibility to remind you that your COBRA coverage cannot be extended and you must convert to an Individual, Exchange or other group policy.

Is a Qualified Transportation Plan a COBRA-eligible plan?

No. If there are any unused funds in the account, they are forfeited at termination of employment.

What is the grace period to pay my COBRA premiums once I’m enrolled?

The monthly premium is due the first of every month with a 30-day grace period. Payment must be postmarked no later than the 30th day of the month in which the COBRA premium is due. If NOT postmarked by the 30th day in which it is due, your coverage will be terminated back to the first of the month you failed to pay the premium on time.

Can COBRA be extended for my dependents?

Yes. If a covered dependent incurs a qualifying secondary event. Such an event includes, a covered dependent experiences a divorce, a legal separation, a loss of dependent status, or a death during the 18-month COBRA eligibility period. This entitles the covered dependent to a total of 36 months of COBRA eligibility.

How long do I have to respond to the COBRA Election Notice?

You have 60 days from the loss of coverage date or the date the COBRA Election Notice was mailed (whichever is the later) to respond by mailing your COBRA Election Form.

What if I should become disabled? Are there any extensions available to my COBRA coverage?

Yes. If you have been “deemed disabled” by Social Security, you will receive an “award” letter. This letter must be submitted to the COBRA insurance carriers within 30 days of the date on the “award” letter. The insurance carriers will extend COBRA eligibility from 18 to 29 months (no extension available if the COBRA participant is already eligible for 36 months).

How will I pay my monthly COBRA premiums?

You will be mailed payment coupons until the next benefit renewal month. The coupons will list the benefits you’ve elected, how much they cost, and where to mail your payment. You may use these coupons to mail a check every month or if you use your bank’s bill-pay service, no coupon is needed. Alternatively, you can pay via Electronic Funds Transfer using this link. Please note there is a $3.00 fee to use this service.

What type of event will entitle me to COBRA eligibility and for how long?

My COBRA Election Notice included several healthcare benefits; do I have to elect all of them?

No. You can pick the benefit(s) you want. You may also drop dependents at this time but you cannot add dependents unless it is open enrollment for that particular benefit.

Are there alternative benefits I may be eligible for in addition to COBRA coverage?

Yes. Having one of these events will qualify you to apply for Individual insurance and/or the State or Federal Exchange. It is important to consider the benefits of COBRA, individual coverage or exchange coverage and the costs. If you elect COBRA coverage, you will not have an opportunity to apply for individual coverage or Exchange coverage until the next open enrollment period (typically January 1st).

What if I am already enrolled in Medicare Part A or both Part A & B when I have a COBRA qualifying event?

You are eligible for 18 or 36 months of COBRA coverage depending on your “COBRA qualifying event.” Becoming eligible for COBRA has great impact on your Medicare coverage. It would be wise to consult with an insurance broker with specialized Medicare training in order to review the facts and circumstances of your situation. Enrolling in COBRA coverage could have unintended Medicare consequences.

What happens after I elect COBRA?

If you’ve paid the premium, your healthcare coverages will be reinstated back to the loss of coverage date. Your medical ID card will begin working again (in most cases) and you will not be mailed a new one (in most cases). Any medical deductible you may have met earlier in the plan year will be credited to your COBRA coverage.

What if I become eligible for Medicare while on COBRA?

The insurance carriers will terminate your coverage under COBRA due to your Medicare entitlement the first day of your birthday month even if you wanted to keep COBRA coverage.

What type of event will entitle me to COBRA eligibility and for how long?

  1. Termination of Employment – an employee has terminated employment. The employee and covered dependents are entitled to 18 months of COBRA eligibility.
  2. Reduction of Hours – an employee has reduced hours to the point where they no longer qualify for benefits under the group healthcare plans. The employee and covered dependents are entitled to 18 months of COBRA eligibility.
  3. Divorce –a COBRA Election Notice will be mailed to the ex-spouse based on the court-appointed date of the dissolution of marriage entitling him/her to 36 months of COBRA eligibility.
  4. Legal Separation – Based on the court-appointed date of the legal separation. A COBRA Election Notice will be mailed to the legally separated spouse entitling him/her to 36 months of COBRA eligibility.
  5. Loss of Dependent Status – a covered dependent child turns age 26 and will lose coverage at the end of their birthday month. A COBRA Election Notice is mailed to the 26 year old entitling him/her to 36 months of COBRA eligibility.
  6. Death of Employee – an employee has died. A COBRA Election Notice will be mailed to the surviving dependents that were covered on the employer’s group benefits entitling them to 36 months of COBRA coverage.

Do I have to mail the COBRA Election Form with payment?

No, however you will not be enrolled in benefits without payment. If you elect COBRA by mailing the COBRA Election Form without payment, you will have an additional 45 days to make all retroactive premium payments from the postmark date of the COBRA Election Form.

Do you accept credit card payments?

No. We have in the past but the bank fees we must pass along to COBRA participants are too cost prohibitive. We do offer Electronic Funds Transfer from your bank account. Please note there is a $2.50 fee to use this service.

How do I terminate my COBRA coverage before the end of my COBRA eligibility?

Provide written notification that you want to terminate your coverage. If you fail to pay your premium within the 30-day grace period, your coverage will be retroactively terminated for failure to pay premiums.

How long must I wait to receive a COBRA Election Notice?

It must be mailed within 44 days from your “COBRA Qualifying Event” date.

What are the benefits of COBRA coverage over Individual coverage or Exchange coverage?

If you have already met your deductible or out-of-pocket maximum on the group plan before being eligible for COBRA, it might be advantageous to stay on the COBRA plan until the end of the calendar year. If you move to an individual plan or Exchange plan mid-year, your deductible will reset to zero when that individual policy or Exchange policy begins. While all plans are different, it is common for COBRA coverage to have greater benefits due to being a group plan. Individual and Exchange coverage can be more expensive for older individuals because rates are based on age.