Section 400
- 401. General Information
- 402. Qualified Beneficiary
- 403. Initial General COBRA Notice
- 404. COBRA Qualifying Events
- 405. Retiree Benefit Plan Alternate Coverage
- 406. Leaves of Absence
- 407. Loss of Group Coverage in Anticipation of a Qualifying Event
- 408. COBRA Election Notice and Election Form
- 409. COBRA Qualifying Event Notification Responsibilities
- 410. Notice of Unavailability of Continuation Coverage
- 411. Election Period
- 412. Length of COBRA Coverage
- 413. COBRA Premiums
- 414. Gross Misconduct
- 415. Noncompliance Penalties and Fines
- 416. Open Enrollment Period
- 417. COBRA in Retirement
- 418. Loss of COBRA Continuation Coverage
- 419. Completion of COBRA Enrollment Forms
- 420. Dental/Vision COBRA Premiums
- 421. Insurance Plan Addresses
- View all Section 400
Attachments
- A - Sample Initial General COBRA Notice
- B - Sample COBRA Election Notice
- C - Sample COBRA Continuation Election Form
- D - Sample Notice of Unavailability of Continuation Coverage
- E - Initial General COBRA Notice Log
- F - COBRA Election Notice Log
- G - Monthly COBRA Status Report
- H - COBRA Calendar
BAM
Benefits Administration Manual
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
402. Qualified Beneficiary
The term "qualified beneficiary" means, an individual that is eligible to continue group coverage because of a qualifying event. Except for the exception listed below on newborns and adopted children, the individual must be covered under the plan at the time of the qualifying event. If the individual is not covered, he/she is not eligible for COBRA continuation coverage.
Eligible Individuals
- Current employees
- Former employees
- Retired employees
- Spouses*
- Dependent children**
- Newborn or child placed for adoption (deemed a qualified beneficiary, although not covered at time of the qualifying event)
Ineligible Individuals
- Non-resident aliens (with no U.S. income)
- Individuals (not qualified beneficiaries) under the plan because of another qualified beneficiary's election
* Domestic partners (eligible based on State of California legislation, not federal COBRA law).
** National Medical Support Notice (NMSN) and Qualified Medical Child Support Order (QMCSO)
Employers are required to provide group health coverage (includes medical, dental, and vision coverage) to children of employees when ordered to do so by state authorities. To ensure that coverage is provided, state, local courts, and agencies can issue medical child support orders.
The Personnel Office may see two types of medical support orders: state domestic relations court and agency orders, referred to as "Qualified Medical Child Support Order" (QMCSO), and orders issued by child support enforcement agencies on standardized forms called "National Medical Support Notice" (NMSN). A child enrolled in group coverage when ordered by a NMSN or QMCSO is deemed a qualified beneficiary under COBRA law, regardless of his/her status as a dependent of the covered employee.
The Personnel Office should send an Initial General Notice to the custodial parent or guardian ("in care of the child") or agency that sent the NMSN or QMCSO (as a substitute, if child's address is unknown).
Updated February 14, 2011 at 1:34 PM.