Understanding Your COBRA Election Notice
The COBRA election form is sent by your former employer’s human resources department or by a third-party administrator that manages COBRA benefits. They have up to 45 days from the date of your qualifying event, which is the event that caused your group health insurance to end, to provide the election notice and enrollment paperwork. Once you receive the form, you have 60 days to decide whether to elect COBRA coverage.
What You Need to Know
- You must receive your COBRA election form within 45 days of your qualifying event, typically from your employer or a third-party administrator.
- Once you receive the COBRA election notice, you have 60 days to decide whether to keep your employer-sponsored health coverage.
- The election notice must include key information like your coverage end date, premium costs, how to elect COBRA, and how long coverage can last.
- Small businesses with fewer than 20 employees are not required to offer federal COBRA, but some states have their own continuation laws.
- COBRA coverage details are summarized in the election notice, but full plan information is available in your Summary Plan Description (SPD).
What's Included In A COBRA Election Notice
The election notice should include:
- The name of the plan and the name, address, and telephone number of the plan’s COBRA administrator
- Identification of the qualifying event;
- Identification of the qualified beneficiaries (by name or by status);
- An explanation of the qualified beneficiaries’ right to elect continuation coverage;
- The date coverage will terminate (or has terminated) if continuation coverage is not elected;
- How to elect continuation coverage;
- What will happen if continuation coverage isn’t elected or is waived;
- What continuation coverage is available, for how long, and (if it is for less than 36 months), how it can be extended for disability or second qualifying events;
- How COBRA coverage may terminate early;
- Premium payment requirements, including due dates and grace periods;
- A statement of the importance of keeping the plan administrator informed of the addresses of qualified beneficiaries;
- A statement that the election notice does not fully describe COBRA or the plan and that more information is available from the plan administrator and in the SPD.
Application Instructions
The election notice you receive will give you instructions on how to enroll back into your previous health plan. Depending on the plan administrator is how you will apply to start coverage. You will have 60 days to elect or waive COBRA continuation.
Application Instructions for COBRA ContinuationSmall Company Exception
A business that employs 19 or fewer workers does not have to comply with the federal COBRA law. Some states have laws that require these small businesses to offer health insurance continuation. The deadline to provide notice to continue the work health plan is handled differently per state. Find your state and the laws regarding insurance continuation.
Replace a Lost or Missing COBRA Election Notice
If you lost your COBRA paperwork, contact your former employer’s HR department for a new copy. They can send it by email or mail.
If HR cannot help, reach out to your COBRA administrator. They keep enrollment records and can issue a replacement notice.
Act fast. You have 60 days to elect COBRA coverage. Missing the deadline could leave you without coverage and responsible for medical costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
The recommendation is to first try to work it out directly with the human resources department that provides the insurance. If you meet resistance with the employer on starting COBRA, you may call the Department of Labor to file a complaint.
We recommend working with the employer’s human resources department. Call and ask them to resend the health insurance continuation election form. They may refer you to their third-party administrator.
You are not covered under COBRA until you make your first premium payment. Your employer legally has up to 45 days to get to you the information you need to elect COBRA. If you need to seek medical treatment within the time period it takes for you to get information from your employer and the time you sign up and make your payment, you may have to be reimbursed for your treatment. As soon as you sign up for COBRA insurance, (before the deadline) and make your premium payment, your insurance coverage is then retroactively set to the last day you had your health plan. There will be no lapse in coverage.
As COBRA insurance is the same insurance you previously had, the premium is the same. The difference is the employer is no longer paying a portion of it. On average, this may cost $400 – $700/month per individual. Review your election notice for exact costs.
Schedule A Consult
We can help you find an affordable health plan before your next major medical health coverage begins.
Schedule Call / Add To Calendar – Choose Date And Time
