Benefits Administration Manual

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)

409. COBRA Qualifying Event Notification Responsibilities

Personnel Office

The Personnel Office has responsibility to ensure that covered employees, spouses, domestic partners, and dependent children (also known as "qualified beneficiaries") are advised of their COBRA rights and responsibilities, provide required notices, and monitor timelines for COBRA elections and coverage continuation periods.

The Personnel Office should be aware of when a covered employee has died, voluntary or involuntary termination of employment, or reduction of hours. At the time that one of these qualifying events occurs, a COBRA Election Notice and Election Form must be provided to qualified beneficiaries within 14 days from the date of the qualifying event or loss of coverage.

Employee, Spouse, and Domestic Partner

The covered employee, spouse, and domestic partner has responsibility to notify the Personnel Office when a divorce, termination of domestic partnership, legal separation, or a child ceases to be a dependent occurs (e.g., child turns 26, child marries). At the time that one of these qualifying events occurs, the Personnel Office must receive notification within 60 days from the date of the qualifying event or the date on which coverage is lost. If notification is provided timely, then a COBRA Election Notice and Election Form must be provided to qualified beneficiaries within 14 days from the date of the qualifying event or loss of coverage. This notice is sent to qualified beneficiaries to explain their rights to elect COBRA continuation group coverage.

If notice to the Personnel Office, is not provided timely, then the department is not required to offer COBRA continuation coverage. You should refer to Section 407, "Notice of Unavailability of Continuation Coverage", regarding the required notice when continuation coverage will not be offered.

Note: Although it is the employees, spouses, and domestic partners responsibility to notify the Personnel Office when a child ceases to be a dependent, you may be aware that a COBRA qualifying event has occurred (e.g., child turns 26). If the Personnel Office is aware that a qualifying event has occurred, then a COBRA Election Notice and Election Form must be provided to the qualified beneficiaries.

Updated February 14, 2011 at 2:11 PM.