COBRA Continuation Coverage Rights (General Notice)
Introduction
This notice contains information about your rights to COBRA continuation coverage, which is a temporary extension of the University of North Georgia sponsored group insurance coverage under the university’s Plan. It generally explains COBRA continuation coverage, when it may become available to you and your family, and what you need to do to protect the right to receive it.
The right to COBRA continuation coverage was created by a federal law, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA). COBRA continuation coverage can become available to you when you would otherwise lose your group health coverage. It can also become available to other members of your family who are covered under the Plan when they would otherwise lose their group health coverage.
COBRA Continuation Coverage
COBRA continuation coverage is a continuation of Plan coverage when coverage would end because of a life event known as a “qualifying event.” Specific qualifying events are listed later in this notice. After a qualifying event, COBRA continuation coverage must be offered to each person who is a “qualified beneficiary.” You, your spouse, and your dependent children could become qualified beneficiaries if coverage under the Plan is lost because of the qualifying event. Under the Plan, qualified beneficiaries who elect COBRA continuation coverage must pay for COBRA continuation coverage.
Qualifying Events for Covered Spouse
If you are the spouse of an employee, you will become a qualified beneficiary if you lose your coverage under the Plan because of any of the following qualifying events happens:
- Your spouse dies;
- Your spouse’s hours of employment are reduced;
- Your spouse’s employment ends for any reason other than his or her gross misconduct;
- Your spouse becomes entitled to Medicare benefits (under Part A, Part B, or both); or
- You become divorced or legally separated from your spouse.
Qualifying Events for Covered Dependent Children
Your dependent children will become qualified beneficiaries if they lose coverage under the Plan because any of the following qualifying events happens:
- The parent-employee dies;
- The parent-employee’s hours of employment are reduced;
- The parent-employee’s hours of employment are reduced;
- The parent-employee becomes entitled to Medicare benefits (under Part A, Part B, or both);
- The parents become divorced or legally separated; or
- The child stops being eligible for coverage under the plan as a “dependent child.”