| Employee / Former Employee: | |
|---|---|
| QUALIFYING EVENT | DURATION OF COBRA COVERAGE |
| Reduction in Hours | 18 months |
| Termination of Employment* | 18 months |
| Bankruptcy of Former Employer (for Retiree) | For life (subject to decision of the Bankruptcy Court) |
| Disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration on or before 60 days after Qualifying Event Date*** | Up to 29 months if still disabled |
| Spouse of Employee / Former Employee: | |
|---|---|
| QUALIFYING EVENT | DURATION OF COBRA COVERAGE |
| Death of Spouse (i.e., the employee) | 36 months. |
| Termination of Employment of Spouse (i.e., the employee)* | 18 months. |
| Divorce or Legal Separation | 36 months. |
| Spouse (i.e., the employee) Becomes Entitled to Medicare (if prior to experiencing a Qualifying Event that is the termination, or reduction in hours, of employment) | 36 months from spouse’s date of Medicare entitlement or, if longer, 18 months from the spouse’s Qualifying Event date (29 months if there is a disability extension). |
| Spouse of Retiree of Bankrupt Former Employer | 36 months beyond the life of the retiree (subject to decision of the Bankruptcy Court). |
| Second Qualifying Event** | 36 months. |
| Disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration on or before 60 days after Qualifying Event Date*** | Up to 29 months if still disabled |
| Dependent Child of Employee / Former Employee: | |
|---|---|
| QUALIFYING EVENT | DURATION OF COBRA COVERAGE |
| Death of Parent (i.e., the employee) | 36 months. |
| Termination of Employment of Parent (i.e., the employee) * | 18 months. |
| Reduction in Hours of Employment of Parent (i.e., the employee) | 36 months. |
| Parent (i.e., the employee) Becomes Entitled to Medicare (if prior to experiencing a Qualifying Event that is the termination, or reduction in hours, of employment) | 36 months from parent’s date of Medicare entitlement or, if longer, 18 months from the parent’s Qualifying Event date (29 months if there is a disability extension). |
| Child of Retiree of Bankrupt Former Employer | 36 months beyond the life of the retiree (subject to decision of the Bankruptcy Court). |
| Second Qualifying Event** | 36 months. |
| Divorce or Legal Separation of Parents | 36 months. |
| Dependent Child Ceases to be Eligible Under the Group Health Plan | 36 months. |
| Disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration on or before 60 days after Qualifying Event Date*** | Up to 29 months if still disabled. |
* The law does not require that COBRA coverage be made available if an employee is terminated for “gross misconduct.”
** If a spouse of dependent child has already started 18 months of COBRA continuation coverage when an event that would allow 36 months occurs, the maximum duration will increase to 36 months. In no case may the total amount of continued coverage be more than 36 months. Medicare entitlement is not considered a second Qualifying Event unless it would serve as a first Qualifying Event (i.e., would result in loss of coverage under the group health plan), which is not common.
*** If a Qualified Beneficiary is eligible for the extension to 29 months due to disability, the other family members on COBRA are also eligible for the same extension. Please note that you must notify the plan administrator within 60 days of the determination of your disability status by the Social Security Administration.
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