What notifications are required for COBRA?

Asked by: Mrs. Charlene Schaden  |  Last update: September 14, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (3 votes)

The most significant COBRA notice requirements for plan administrators are the general notice and the election notice. Plan administrators must provide covered individuals with the general notice within 90 days after their group health plan (GHP) coverage begins.

What are the COBRA notification requirements?

14-Day Notice Period

The HR office must provide the COBRA Election Notice and Election Form to qualified beneficiaries within 14 days from the date of the qualifying event or loss of coverage, or when the HR office is notified, whichever comes first.

What triggers a COBRA notice?

In general, the COBRA qualifying event must be a termination of employment or a reduction of the covered employee's employment hours.

What is the initial COBRA notification letter?

This notice is intended to provide a summary of your rights, options, and notification responsibilities under COBRA. Should an actual qualifying event occur in the future and coverage is lost, the CalPERS will provide you (and your covered dependents, if any), with the appropriate COBRA election notice at that time.

Can COBRA notifications be emailed?

The Email Notification Service allows members the option to receive an email notification in place of receiving a paper letter. The email notifies the member of an available communication and provides instructions to log into the Member Portal to view the communication. The email will be sent from cbizcobra@cbiz.com.

COBRA Insurance | What You Need to Know

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How do I get notified when emailed?

On the web
  1. Open Gmail.
  2. At the top right, click Settings. ...
  3. Scroll to “Desktop notifications.”
  4. Click New mail notifications on or Important mail notifications on.
  5. Next to "Mail notification sounds," select a sound from the list.
  6. To turn off email notification sounds, select None.
  7. Scroll to the bottom click Save changes.

Can COBRA notices be provided electronically?

However, because COBRA notices must be provided via first-class mail to the home address where a spouse or dependent is also covered under the plan, the plan administrator must obtain consent from the spouse or dependent before delivering COBRA notices electronically.

How long do you have to give COBRA notification?

COBRA coverage follows a "qualifying event". An example of a qualifying event would be if your hours were reduced or you lost your job (as long as there was no gross misconduct). Your employer must mail you the COBRA information and forms within 14 days after receiving notification of the qualifying event.

Are you automatically signed up for COBRA?

You should get a notice in the mail about your COBRA and Cal-COBRA rights. You have 60 days after being notified to sign up. If you are eligible for Federal COBRA and did not get a notice, contact your employer. If you are eligible for Cal-COBRA and did not get a notice, contact your health plan.

Do COBRA letters need to be sent certified?

Employers should send notices by first-class mail, obtain a certificate of mailing from the post office, and keep a log of letters sent. Certified mailing should be avoided, as a returned receipt with no delivery acceptance signature proves the participant did not receive the required notice.

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.

Can employers deny COBRA?

If the former employee is considered an eligible plan participant, then he or she would be a qualified beneficiary and entitled to COBRA coverage unless the second exception (denial based on gross misconduct) is applied. Under COBRA, a person who has been terminated for gross misconduct may be denied COBRA.

How long does a COBRA take to process?

Coverage under COBRA will be retroactive from your last day of coverage as an active benefits participant. This reinstatement normally takes between 5 and 10 business days from when your first full month of COBRA payment is processed.

What triggers COBRA letter?

Strict legal requirements govern when many employers must send COBRA continuation notices to their employees. Employers are often required to send notifications (or have them sent by a plan administrator) when employees experience qualifying events — which can include a reduction in hours or termination.

What are the federal requirements for COBRA?

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.

How long does an employer have to send a COBRA notice to an employee?

Group health plans must provide covered employees and their families with certain notices explaining their COBRA rights. Your COBRA rights must be described in the plan's Summary Plan Description (SPD), which you should receive within 90 days after you first become a participant in the plan.

Does COBRA kick in immediately?

An employee eligible for COBRA insurance must opt for it within 60 days of their employer-sponsored insurance termination date. The coverage starts the day the previous coverage ends.

How do I enroll in COBRA through my employer?

The employer that provided the health insurance will send you a COBRA election notice within 45 days of the qualifying event. This notice will give you your monthly COBRA premium and how to apply. Enrollment in COBRA. You have a 60-day special enrollment period to sign up.

How much does COBRA typically cost per month?

COBRA coverage is not cheap.

A COBRA premium can cost on average $400 to $700 a month per person.

How much notice is required for COBRA for new hires?

Plan administrators must provide a written general notice of COBRA rights to each covered employee and spouse (if any) within 90 days after their coverage under a GHP begins. The general notice must also be sent to any new dependents added to the plan after the employee's initial enrollment.

Why is COBRA so expensive?

Why is COBRA more expensive than employer-sponsored insurance? COBRA is more expensive because the individual is responsible for the entire premium amount without the employer's financial contribution that is provided during active employment.

How long do you have to set up COBRA after leaving a job?

You have 60 days to enroll in COBRA once your employer-sponsored benefits end. Even if your enrollment is delayed, you will be covered by COBRA starting the day your prior coverage ended.

Who sends COBRA information?

The COBRA notification may come from your former employer or a third-party administrator that will manage that plan moving forward. Your COBRA election notice will contain all of the information you will need to continue your health plan.

What to do if you don't receive COBRA paperwork?

First, you should contact your former employer's human resources department to request a new copy of the paperwork. They may be able to send it to you electronically or by mail. If you are unable to obtain a new copy from your former employer, you can also contact the COBRA administrator for your health plan.

Can you complete COBRA online?

You can also complete your election electronically at MyBenefits.WageWorks.com and complete the Enroll COBRA section. You will not receive a new insurance card. You should continue to use the same cards provided to you by your insurance carrier(s).