COBRA

Through the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), you and your eligible dependents can continue your enrollment in medical, dental and vision coverage for a specified period of time.

Electing COBRA

If you experience a qualifying life event, the COBRA enrollment deadline is 60 days after the event. You must contact your campus Human Resources office to let them know about your event.

If your employment with the university ends, the university’s COBRA administrator, UMR, will contact you about your right to continue your coverage under COBRA. You have 60 days to elect COBRA coverage from the later of:

  • The date of your qualifying life event
  • The date you receive notice from UMR

Once you elect COBRA, you have 45 days to make your first premium payment, retroactive to the date your plan ended. The insurance company will reinstate your medical, dental and vision coverage retroactive to the date coverage ended. You will experience no break in coverage — any denied claims can be reprocessed for payment.

Enrollment Steps

  • Contact your campus Human Resources office if you have a qualifying life event.
  • Respond to UMR and enroll in COBRA within 60 days.
  • Make the first COBRA payment within 45 days from your COBRA election date.
  • Re-submit any claims that were denied during the period when your coverage was canceled.

Eligibility

If you have a qualifying life event that causes you or a dependent to lose University health care coverage (including the loss of your job), you may be able to continue your coverage for a period of time under COBRA.

COBRA allows you to continue the same medical, dental, and/or vision coverage you had as an active employee, but at full cost (see “Cost of Coverage”). You may also continue your Healthcare Flexible Spending Account.

Cost of Coverage

Generally, while on COBRA you’ll pay the full cost of health care coverage (both your contribution and the university’s contribution) and a 2% administrative fee. UMR will provide the current rates at the time of your enrollment.

Length of Coverage

The length of time you can continue your coverage depends on the qualifying life event. You are eligible for up to 18 months of COBRA coverage if:

  • You chose to terminate or are terminated from university employment
  • Your working hours are reduced to the point where you lose eligibility for university benefits

You are eligible for up to 36 months of COBRA coverage if:

  • You are an eligible dependent of a university employee who dies while employed
  • You are the divorced or legally separated spouse of a university employee
  • You are a child of a university employee who loses eligibility for dependent coverage due to age or loss of dependent status

COBRA coverage is terminated if:

  • You or a dependent later becomes covered by another group health plan
  • You enroll in Medicare after you elect COBRA

Second Qualifying Event

If your dependents experience a second qualifying event while receiving 18 months of COBRA continuation coverage, they may be eligible to receive up to 18 additional months of COBRA (for a total of 36 months).

Disability

If you or your dependent becomes disabled before you begin COBRA or within the first 60 days, you or your dependent may be able to continue coverage for an additional 11 months (for a total of 29 months). If you have an 11-month COBRA extension due to disability, you’ll pay an additional 50% fee.

Loss of Coverage

COBRA coverage will stop if:

  • You reach the end of your coverage continuation period
  • You enroll in health coverage under another health plan, unless that plan includes a limitation or an exclusion for a pre-existing condition of yours or your dependent(s)
  • You enroll in Medicare benefits
  • The plan is terminated (or no longer provides health coverage) and the university does not sponsor any other employee group health plans
  • You fail to make a required monthly premium payment
  • The Social Security Administration determines, during the 11-month disability extension, that the covered person is no longer disabled

Resources

For more information about your COBRA coverage, refer to the Medical Summary Plan Description or contact your campus Human Resources office.