Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: Benefit continuation as required under federal law. This program allows employees and/or their covered dependents to continue coverage at their expense for either 18 or 36 month, depending on the COBRA Qualifying Event. CalHR provides federally-based policy guidelines to departments, which include COBRA rules and what personnel offices are required to do. COBRA terms, rules, and requirements are not subject to collective bargaining.

Eligible Employee: Any employee and their covered dependents who is/are enrolled in any health, dental, and/or vision plan, and/or a medical reimbursement account and have a COBRA qualifying event.

HR offices are responsible for providing covered individuals with the three required COBRA notices and provide assistance in completing the COBRA enrollment form, when required. The three required COBRA notices are:

Initial General COBRA Notice

Provides the covered individual(s) with a summary of their rights, options, and notification responsibilities under the COBRA law.

COBRA Election Notice

Informs the covered individual(s) of their loss of group coverage, and their right to enroll in continuation coverage, using the attached COBRA election form.

Unavailability of Coverage Notice

Informs the covered individual(s) of their ineligibility to enroll in continuation coverage due to failure of the employee to inform their HR office of a COBRA qualifying event in a timely manner.

The Benefits Administration Manual provides more information on COBRA.

For policy information and governing authorities please the CalHR HR Manual – 1408 Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).