COBRA
Continuation of Coverage (COBRA)
The
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) requires
most employer sponsored group health plans to offer employees and their
dependents an extension of health coverage at group rates. This applies
to situations in which the coverage would otherwise end due to certain
qualifying events. Qualifying events include an employee’s termination
or death. Dependents may also be eligible for continuation of benefit
because of age, divorce or legal separation, or loss of coverage.
Any employee or family member, who loses
County-sponsored group coverage due to a qualifying event, is eligible
to elect continuation coverage. Generally, each person who loses
health, dental, and/or EAP coverage has an independent right to this
coverage.
It is the responsibility of each employee or covered family member to
inform the Employee Benefits Office within 60 days of a qualifying event
(a dependent’s loss of dependent status, divorce, death) to be eligible
to continue coverage.
Click
here for 2012 COBRA rates.
Domestic partners of employees and the
children of domestic partners are not eligible to
independently elect to
continue coverage after a loss of eligibility. Domestic partners,
however, may continue coverage as a dependent of a former employee who
elects continuation coverage.
Please direct your
questions about your Continuation of Coverage rights to our COBRA
Coordinator at
916-874-5480 or by writing to us at 700 H Street Room 4667, Sacramento,
CA 95814 or email at
dpsbenefits@saccounty.net.
Inquire about the availability of documents in
alternate formats.
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