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Length of Cobra Coverage

The Consolidation Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA, is a federal regulation allowing an employee who is terminated or laid off from a job to continue receiving health care coverage for a fixed amount of time. The length of time you may extend your health insurance under COBRA depends on the reason for your termination, your health status and even your marital status.

  1. Termination from Employment

    • If you are dismissed or laid off from your job for a qualifying event you may continue your health insurance coverage under COBRA for a maximum of 18 months. You may also continue this coverage if you lose your health insurance eligibility due to a reduction in hours. A qualifying event includes any situation resulting in your termination that is outside of gross misconduct. Examples of gross misconduct include such events as committing a crime on work grounds or failing to correct violations of safety regulations or established work policies after repeated attempts by management to correct the behavior.

    Employees with Disabilities

    • If you become disabled due to a workplace injury at least 60 days before a scheduled layoff you may elect to continue your health insurance coverage under COBRA for a maximum of 29 months. Health insurance coverage may also continue for this length of time if you have a dependent or spouse who is legally disabled prior to your dismissal from your position. The 29-month maximum for coverage includes your original 18 months of COBRA coverage plus an 11-month extension of benefits.

    Death, Divorce or Separation

    • If you divorce from your spouse you may elect to continue coverage under your spouse's insurance plan using COBRA regulations for up to 36 months. This requires you to pay 100 percent of the premium for your previous health care coverage. You may also elect for this coverage in the event of your covered spouse's death or legal separation from a marriage. If you are a dependent child who loses dependent child status, you may elect COBRA coverage for the same amount of time.

    Coverage Extensions

    • You may apply for an 18-month extension of your health benefits under COBRA if you become legally disabled within 60 days of the termination of coverage or if a second qualifying event occurs. Qualifying events in this case may include your initial eligibility for Medicare, your employer filing for bankruptcy, the death of a covered spouse or divorce. If you find new employment with health insurance benefits you are required to inform your COBRA insurance provider to cancel your COBRA coverage once you are eligible for your employer's health plan.

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