What is not a qualifying event under COBRA?

Asked by: Alana Osinski  |  Last update: May 28, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (25 votes)

A loss of coverage caused by an event not listed as a triggering event will not result in a right to continuation coverage under COBRA. This includes events such as a change in plan eligibility rules, failure to pay plan premiums, or an employee's decision to voluntarily drop coverage.

What are the 7 COBRA qualifying events?

The seven COBRA qualifying events that allow individuals to maintain their employer-sponsored health insurance include termination of employment for reasons other than gross misconduct, reduction in the number of work hours, divorce or legal separation from the covered employee, the covered employee becoming entitled ...

Which of the following is not a qualifying event for COBRA?

Coverage provided under the FMLA is not COBRA coverage, and taking FMLA leave is not a qualifying event under COBRA.

What is not covered under COBRA?

COBRA also does not cover plans that provide only life insurance or disability benefits, as those benefits are not considered “medical care.”

What is not a qualifying life event?

Is Changing Jobs a Qualifying Life Event? No, changing jobs within an organization is not a qualifying life event. Your employer-based coverage will remain the same until you have the opportunity to make changes during the open enrollment period.

COBRA Qualifying Events

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What are examples of a qualifying event?

Qualifying life event (QLE)
  • Getting married or divorced.
  • Having a baby or adopting a child.
  • Death in the family.

What is a non qualifying life policy?

Non-qualifying policies tend to be policies which are funded by a single premium rather than regular contributions. They are much more likely to give rise to tax consequences when they mature. We explain how to work out if tax on non-qualifying policies is due below.

What disqualifies you from COBRA?

Why would an employee not qualify to enroll in Cal-COBRA? The employee is enrolled in or eligible for Medicare. The employee does not enroll within 60 days of receiving the notice of eligibility from the employer. The employee is covered by another health plan.

What is the COBRA loophole?

If you decide to enroll in COBRA health insurance, your coverage will be retroactive, meaning it will apply to any medical bills incurred during the 60-day decision period. This loophole can save you money by avoiding premium payments unless you actually need care during this time.

Is COBRA ending a qualifying event?

However, you won't qualify if you decide to end COBRA early and are paying the full benefit cost yourself. You also don't qualify if you lose your COBRA coverage because you didn't pay your premiums. Remember, you don't need a special enrollment period if you voluntarily end COBRA during open enrollment.

What is a COBRA exception?

COBRA Exception: Gross Misconduct

Employees do not experience a COBRA qualifying event if their loss of coverage is caused by a termination of employment that is “by reason of the employee's gross misconduct.” The gross misconduct exception applies only to a termination of employment triggering event.

Why is COBRA so expensive?

COBRA coverage is not cheap.

Why? Because you're now responsible for paying your portion of your health insurance: The cost your employer contributed to your premium, in addition to the 2% service fee on the cost of your insurance.

Who is not a qualified beneficiary under COBRA?

(e) An individual is not a qualified beneficiary if the individual's status as a covered employee is attributable to a period in which the individual was a nonresident alien who received from the individual's employer no earned income (within the meaning of section 911(d)(2)) that constituted income from sources within ...

Which of the following is not a COBRA qualifying event?

Final answer: The event that would NOT be a qualifying event under COBRA is gross misconduct. Qualifying events typically include company downsizing, changes in employment status, and voluntary termination. Under COBRA, individuals terminated for gross misconduct are not eligible for continued health coverage.

What happens if I elect COBRA but don't pay?

There is no grace period if you're late paying your initial COBRA premium payment. 3 If it isn't paid on time (ie, within 45 days of electing COBRA), you lose your right to have COBRA coverage; you'll have to find other health insurance options or you'll be uninsured.

How do you determine COBRA eligibility?

COBRA eligibility has three basic requirements that must be met for you to get a continuation of coverage: Your group health plan must be covered by COBRA. A qualifying event must occur. You must be a qualified beneficiary for that event.

Do you qualify for COBRA if you quit?

Whether you quit, get fired or are laid off, you may be able to choose your former employer's health plan under a federal law called COBRA. That stands for Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act. It's available if: You were enrolled in an employer-sponsored medical, dental or vision plan.

What is the 105 day COBRA loophole?

So, if you maxed out the 60 day election period plus the 45 day payment period, you could actually go 105 days without paying for the coverage.

Does health insurance end the day you quit?

When does health insurance expire after leaving a job in California? Your health insurance may expire the day you leave your job, or at the end of that month. For instance, if you quit on January 10th, you may have coverage through January 31st. You'll need to find out what your employer's policy is.

What are examples of individuals who would qualify for COBRA?

Eligible for COBRA through a dependent qualifying event

Some of the most common dependent qualifying events are: dependent turning 26 and aging out of active coverage (under the Affordable Care Act) getting a divorce (spouse who had active coverage through employee loses it) employee with active coverage dies.

Is a strike a COBRA qualifying event?

For example, a strike or a lockout is a termination or reduction of hours that constitutes a qualifying event if the strike or lockout results in a loss of coverage as described in paragraph (c) of Q&A-1 of this section. Similarly, a layoff that results in such a loss of coverage is a qualifying event.

What is considered gross misconduct?

Gross misconduct occurs when an employee engages in seriously inappropriate behavior at work, potentially warranting immediate termination. This behavior, which substantially breaches the company's standards of conduct, may include theft, fraud, violence, harassment, or severe insubordination.

What does no qualifying mean?

A non-qualified mortgage is a type of mortgage that doesn't conform to certain standards set by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). These standards prohibit specific loan features, like balloon payments, and mandate criteria lenders must use to evaluate applicants' finances and ability to repay.

What is a non qualifying plan?

The non-qualified plan on a W-2 is a type of retirement savings plan that is employer-sponsored and tax-deferred. They are non-qualified because they fall outside the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) guidelines and are exempt from the testing required with qualified retirement savings plans.

What is the top slicing relief?

Top slicing relief is available to mitigate a higher rate or additional rate income tax liability arising as a result of a chargeable event gain being added to the taxpayer's total income. It does not: Reduce income for the purposes of child or working tax credits (instead the full amount of the gain is included).