Health care benefits provided under the terms of a group health plan that are available to Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) beneficiaries may include

• Inpatient and outpatient hospital care
• Physician care
• Surgery and other major medical benefits
• Prescription drugs
• Any other health care benefits, such as dental and vision care

Life insurance, however, is not covered under COBRA.

Group health plans must offer coverage to qualified beneficiaries that is identical to that available to similarly situated individuals who are not receiving COBRA coverage under the plan (generally, the same coverage that the qualified beneficiary had immediately before qualifying for continuation coverage). For example, a qualified beneficiary may have had medical, hospitalization, dental, vision and prescription benefits under a single or multiple plans maintained by the employer on the day preceding the qualifying event. That qualified beneficiary may elect to continue all benefits or choose to continue only certain benefits (if active employees are permitted to select specific benefits and decline other benefits under the plan or plans).

A change in the benefits under the plan for active employees will also apply to qualified beneficiaries. Qualified beneficiaries must be allowed to make the same choices given to non-COBRA enrollees under the plan, such as during periods of open enrollment by the plan. COBRA beneficiaries remain subject to the rules of the plan and therefore are subject to catastrophic and other benefit limits to the same extent as non-COBRA plan enrollees.

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Page Last Modified: 08/29/2008 11:15:19 AM
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