The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (COBRA)
COBRA is a federal law that requires employers who sponsor group health plans to offer employees and their families the opportunity for a temporary extension of health coverage at group rates.
Employees who lose their health coverage through termination or another qualifying event generally may opt to extend their coverage, at their expense. Typically, COBRA allows coverage for 18 months, but it may continue for up to 36 months in certain cases.
Employees who qualify for COBRA may choose to extend their health coverage by submitting a form to Human Resources within 60 days of their termination or other qualifying event. The covered individual will pay their insurance premiums to Human Resources.
Coverage may end before the maximum period for a number of reasons, including:
- If any required premium payment is not paid when due, coverage will cease for you, your spouse and your dependent children.
- If you, your spouse or your dependent children become covered under another group health plan that does not contain any exclusion or limitation for any preexisting condition of the qualified beneficiary, or are entitled to Medicare benefits, coverage will cease for each individual so covered.
- If all of Pacific University's group health plans are terminated, coverage will cease for you, your spouse and dependent children.
- If coverage was extended to 29 months due to disability, a determination that the individual is no longer disabled will preclude coverage. Federal law requires that you inform the Human Resources of any final determination that the individual is no longer disabled.
To be sure that you, your spouse and your dependent children receive necessary information concerning your rights, please keep Human Resources informed of any address changes.