How to Add a Person to COBRA

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) was passed in 1986. Under the act, terminated employees who will lose their health insurance coverage because of reduced work hours can buy group coverage for themselves and their families. The health insurance will usually last for 18 months, although under certain circumstances it can be extended to 29 or 36 months. Enrolling in COBRA is relatively simple, but you are responsible to pay your monthly premiums yourself.

Things You'll Need

• COBRA form

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Instructions

• 1

  Submit a copy of your letter of termination to your health insurance provider. You must do this within 60 days of receiving a notice of termination. Failure to do this will disqualify you from COBRA. Alternatively, your employer can notify your health insurance plan administrator.

• 2

  Fill out the COBRA election notice form you received from your employer. Indicate every member of your family who you would like to add to the plan. This can include your spouse or former spouse and dependent children. Mail the completed form to the address provided.

• 3

  Contact your health plan administrator if you have already started COBRA but want to add more people to your plan and are still within the time limits for electing COBRA. The additional person must have been eligible for COBRA at the time you elected COBRA. If you are recently married and were not married or living in a legal domestic partnership at the time of your COBRA election, your new spouse is not eligible. To add children born after you elected COBRA, contact your plan administrator.