COBRA

business man with breifecase | smart health insurance portland

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)

COBRA gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for typically up to 18 months.

COBRA vs. Individual/Family Health Plan

What is the best option?

It is a busy and confusing time when leaving a job. Why not have an expert research all of your health insurance options? Save time and give me a call.

I can help you quickly determine what option is best by weighing your needs, premium costs, and your coverage options.

Don’t put it off! There are eligibility deadlines for continuing employer coverage and starting individual/family coverage that you don’t want to miss.

Call now to explore your options

COBRA Coverage Details:

Allows you to continue group coverage.

Good when you are in the middle of treatment.

Group plans sometimes give you extra coverage.

COBRA can be expensive depending on your situation.

You are responsible for your full insurance premium.

What you need to know - all the nuts and bolts

Individual/Family ACA (Affordable Care Act) Rules

Losing group health coverage qualifies you for a special enrollment period for individual/family health insurance coverage.

You must apply within 60 days of losing employer group coverage.

You are also eligible to apply for a federal subsidy (a subsidy reduces your monthly health insurance premium) during your 60-day special enrollment period.

COBRA administration (groups with 20 or more employees)

Employers with 20 or more employees are required under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) to offer employees and/or their dependents continuation of medical and dental coverage in certain instances where there is a loss of group insurance coverage.

Employee or dependents must elect continuation coverage within 60 days.

Employee or dependents must be allowed to elect the same coverage that was in place prior to the loss of coverage provided under the employer’s plan.

The individual continuing coverage is responsible for making the full monthly premium payment to the employer each month. This includes the employee’s share and any portion previously paid by the employer.

COBRA Insurance only lasts 18 months (in special cases up to 36 months).

State continuation of coverage (groups with 19 or fewer employees and groups not subject to COBRA)

State-mandated continuation of coverage is available to the employee, eligible spouse and dependents if he or she has been covered continuously under your group contract, or a similar predecessor group health plan, during the three-month period prior to the date of termination of employment or membership.

Important: In Oregon, benefits-eligible individuals must request state continuation coverage in writing to their employer within 10 days after the date on which their coverage under your group contract would otherwise end.

The eligible employee, spouse or dependent must also make the full monthly payment in advance to you each month.

State continuation last up to 9 months.

Is COBRA Right For you?

Call now to explore your options

Independent Health Insurance Agent

Lake Oswego, OR

Jeff Klein

Call/Text:

(503) 515-5525

Request A Quote

"Kaiser," "Kaiser Permanente", "Kaiser Foundation Health Plan" and the Kaiser Permanente Logo are registered trademarks or service marks of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., in the United States. This Web site is owned and maintained by Smart Health, which is solely responsible for its content. This site is not maintained by or affiliated with Kaiser Permanente, and Kaiser Permanente bears no responsibility for its content. The e-mail addresses and telephone numbers that appear throughout this site belong to Smart Health and cannot be used to contact Kaiser Permanente.