What qualifying events trigger Cobra?
Asked by: Ms. Annabell Lueilwitz | Last update: March 7, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (75 votes)
What triggers a COBRA event?
Qualified beneficiaries experience a COBRA qualifying event where their loss of coverage is caused by the covered employee's reduction of hours, allowing for up to 18 months of COBRA coverage. This event applies where the employee's hours of service are no longer sufficient to maintain health plan eligibility.
Which of the following is not a qualifying event to trigger COBRA coverage?
Taking a leave of absence under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) is not a COBRA qualifying event because FMLA requires a covered employer to maintain group health plan benefits for an employee so the employee has no coverage loss.
What are examples of a qualifying event?
- Getting married or divorced.
- Having a baby or adopting a child.
- Death in the family.
What is the 60 days COBRA loophole?
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.
COBRA Qualifying Events
What is the 18 month rule for COBRA?
When Federal COBRA ends, eligible employees can buy 18 months additional health coverage under Cal-COBRA. All qualified beneficiaries are generally eligible for continuation coverage for 36 months after the date the qualified beneficiary's benefits would otherwise have terminated.
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.
How to prove a qualifying event?
- Marriage license for marriage.
- Divorce papers for divorce.
- Birth certificate for the birth of a child.
- Adoption papers for adoption.
- Death certificate for a change in household due to death.
Is coming off COBRA a qualifying event?
Losing COBRA Benefits
Here's the good news: Rolling off of COBRA coverage is a qualifying event that opens a special enrollment period for you to purchase your own health coverage. And you'll have more options, flexibility and control of your health plan outside of COBRA with an individual health insurance plan.
Which of the following circumstances is not a hardship qualifying event?
Final answer: Buying a new car does not qualify as a circumstance for a hardship exemption for obtaining catastrophic health 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 ...
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.”
For which qualifying event must the employer initiate COBRA notification?
The employer must notify the plan if the qualifying event is the covered employee's termination or reduction of hours of employment, death, entitlement to Medicare, or bankruptcy of a private-sector employer. The employer must notify the plan within 30 days of the event.
What is not a COBRA qualifying event?
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.
Which of the following would not be a qualifying event under COBRA?
Under COBRA, the event that does NOT qualify for continued health coverage is gross misconduct. This means if an employee is terminated for gross misconduct, they are not eligible for COBRA benefits. The correct answer is option C: Gross misconduct.
What makes you COBRA eligible?
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.
What are the second qualifying events for COBRA?
If during the 18 months of continuation coverage, a second event takes place (divorce, termination of domestic partnership, legal separation, death, or a dependent child ceases to be a dependent), then the original 18 months of continuation coverage can be extended to 36 months from the original date of loss of ...
Is resignation a qualifying event for COBRA?
Yes, You Can Get COBRA Insurance After You Quit Your Job
COBRA allows you to keep your employer-sponsored health insurance for up to 18 months if your coverage ends due to job loss, quitting or termination.
What do I do if COBRA is too expensive?
If COBRA feels expensive, consider ACA plans or short-term health insurance. Marketplace plans during the open enrollment period or a special enrollment period can offer more budget-friendly options.
Which of the following is considered a qualifying event under?
Examples of qualifying events include marriage, registered domestic partnership, new births, adoptions, or divorce. Enrollments/change requests to a health/vision, dental or FSA plan MUST be submitted within 30 days of the qualifying event date via Employee Online.
Can I buy health insurance and use it immediately?
Many, but not all, short term health insurance plans can take effect the day after your application is received.
Is cobra retroactive?
COBRA is always retroactive to the day after your employer coverage ends. So, you'll need to pay your premiums for that period too.
What is the loophole for COBRA coverage?
Understanding the 60-Day Loophole
It's not so much of a loophole, but two 60-day windows of time to remember. You have a 60-day window following the end of your employer-sponsored plan to select COBRA coverage or choose a new plan in the individual ACA marketplace.
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.
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.