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Federal COBRA and Cal-COBRA

Who can enroll in Federal COBRA or Cal-COBRA?

• You may be able to get Federal COBRA if you have health insurance through an employer who has 20 or more employees and there is a qualifying event described below.
• You may be able to get Cal-COBRA if you have health insurance through an employer who has 2 to 19 employees and there is a qualifying event described below.

A qualifying event means that you lose your health insurance because:

• The employee's job ends.
• The employee's hours are cut.
• You divorce or legally separate from the employee.
• You are no longer a dependent of the employee.
• The employee enrolls in Medicare.
• The employee dies.

How do I sign up for Federal COBRA or Cal-COBRA?

• If you leave your job or your hours are cut, you should receive a notice that says you can enroll in Federal COBRA or Cal-COBRA. Within 60 days of the date of the notice, you must tell the health plan in writing that you want to sign up.
• If you divorce, legally separate, or you can no longer be considered a dependent, you should tell the employer and the health plan to send you the forms you need. Within 60 days of being notified of your right to Federal COBRA or Cal-COBRA, you must tell the health plan in writing that you want to sign up.
• The health plan must then send you a notice that tells you how much the premium is and how to sign up.
• Make sure you:
• Send in the application form before the deadline.
• Send it to the right place.
• Send the right premium amount.
• Meet the deadline for paying your premium.

Can I get Cal-COBRA after I use up my Federal COBRA?

You may be able to. If your Federal COBRA lasted 18 months, you may be able to keep your health insurance under Cal-COBRA for 18 more months, for a total of 36 months. If your Federal COBRA lasted 36 months, you cannot get more Cal-COBRA.

What are my benefits under Federal COBRA and Cal-COBRA?

• You have the same benefits as other employees in the same plan.
• If other employees have open enrollment periods when they can change from one plan to another, you can too.
• If the employer changes the employees from one plan to another, you change too.
• You have no restrictions because of pre-existing conditions.
• If the group plan offers specialized plans, such as dental or vision plans, they must be offered to you also. However, if you change to Cal-COBRA from Federal COBRA, these specialized plans do not have to be offered to you.

When do Federal COBRA and Cal-COBRA end?

They end when:

• The time period ends (up to 18 months of Federal COBRA followed by up to 18 months of Cal-COBRA (36 months total), or 36 months if you only have Cal-COBRA).
• You do not pay your premiums on time.
• The employer no longer offers any health insurance.
• You move outside the health plan's service area.
• You enroll in, or become eligible to enroll in Medicare.
• You enroll in another health plan.

You cannot enroll in Federal COBRA or Cal-COBRA if you:

• Are enrolled in, or become eligible to enroll in Medicare.
• Are fired for gross misconduct.
• Did not enroll in the time limit.
• Do not pay your premiums on time.
• Are covered or become covered by another health plan.

Can I continue my insurance after Federal COBRA or Cal-COBRA ends?

Yes. You have several choices, including:

• Enrolling in a HIPAA plan
  
• Converting your group coverage to individual coverage HIPAA and Conversion Coverage.
• Buying Individual Health Insurance.
• Enrolling in California's high-risk health insurance pool, known as MRMIP.

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