If you're interested in learning more about COBRA Continuation Health Coverage or VIPER® affordable COBRA alternatives, you've come to the right place. VIPER® Health Insurance is the industry standard alternative to COBRA, and the industry leading information site on COBRA Continuation Health Coverage. This website is jam-packed with useful information, FAQs, articles, resources, and services geared to help employees better understand their rights and the laws pertaining to COBRA Continuation Health Coverage.

COBRA - How long does Continuation of Health Coverage last?
How long does COBRA coverage last?

COBRA establishes required periods of coverage for continuation health benefits. A plan, however, may provide longer periods of coverage beyond those required by COBRA. COBRA beneficiaries generally are eligible for group coverage during a maximum of 18 months for qualifying events due to employment termination or reduction of hours of work. Certain qualifying events, or a second qualifying event during the initial period of coverage, may permit a beneficiary to receive a maximum of 36 months of coverage.

Coverage begins on the date that coverage would otherwise have been lost by reason of a qualifying event and will end at the end of the maximum period. It may end earlier if:

Premiums are not paid on a timely basis

The employer ceases to maintain any group health plan

After the COBRA election, coverage is obtained with another employer group health plan that does not contain any exclusion or limitation with respect to any pre-existing condition of such beneficiary. However, if other group health coverage is obtained prior to the COBRA election, COBRA coverage may not be discontinued, even if the other coverage continues after the COBRA election.

After the COBRA election, a beneficiary becomes entitled to Medicare benefits. However, if Medicare is obtained prior to COBRA election, COBRA coverage may not be discontinued, even if the other coverage continues after the COBRA election.

Although COBRA specifies certain periods of time that continued health coverage must be offered to qualified beneficiaries, COBRA does not prohibit plans from offering continuation health coverage that goes beyond the COBRA periods.

Some plans allow participants and beneficiaries to convert group health coverage to an individual policy. If this option is generally available from the plan, a qualified beneficiary who pays for COBRA coverage must be given the option of converting to an individual policy at the end of the COBRA continuation coverage period. The option must be given to enroll in a conversion health plan within 180 days before COBRA coverage ends. The premium for a conversion policy may be more expensive than the premium of a group plan, and the conversion policy may provide a lower level of coverage. The conversion option, however, is not available if the beneficiary ends COBRA coverage before reaching the end of the maximum period of COBRA coverage.

COBRA information and Frequently Asked Questions FAQs

Learn more about COBRA continuation of health insurance by selecting a link below.

• What does COBRA Continuation Health Coverage do?
• Who is entitled to benefits under COBRA?
• Plan Coverage
• Qualified Beneficiaries
• Qualifying Events
• Qualifying Events for Employees
• Qualifying Events for Spouses
• Qualifying Events for Dependent Children
• What group health plans are subject to COBRA?
• What process must individuals follow to elect COBRA continuation coverage?
• How long after a qualifying event do I have to elect COBRA coverage?
• How do I file a COBRA claim for benefits?
• Can individuals qualify for longer periods of COBRA continuation coverage?
• Is a divorced spouse entitled to COBRA coverage from their former spouses’ group health plan?
• If I waive COBRA coverage during the election period, can I still get coverage at a later date?
• Under COBRA, what benefits must be covered?
• When does COBRA coverage begin?
• How long does COBRA coverage last?
• Who pays for COBRA coverage?
• If I elect COBRA, how much do I pay?
• Can I receive COBRA benefits while on FMLA leave?
• What is the Federal Government's role in COBRA?
• I am a federal employee. Can I receive benefits under COBRA?
• Am I eligible for COBRA if my company closed or went bankrupt and there is no health plan?
• How do I find out about COBRA coverage and how do I elect to take it?
• Frequently asked COBRA health insurance questions