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The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
(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 limited periods of time under certain circumstances such as
voluntary or involuntary job loss, reduction in the hours worked, transition
between jobs, death, divorce, and other life events. Qualified individuals may
be required to pay the entire premium for coverage up to 102 percent of the
cost to the plan.
COBRA generally requires that group health plans
sponsored by employers with 20 or more employees in the prior year offer
employees and their families the opportunity for a temporary extension of
health coverage (called continuation coverage) in certain instances where
coverage under the plan would otherwise end.
COBRA outlines how employees and family members may
elect continuation coverage. It also requires employers and plans to provide
notice.
DOL Web Pages on This
Topic
Frequently Asked
Questions: COBRA Continuation Health Coverage Provides answers to
commonly asked questions about COBRA.
Health Benefits Under the
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) (PDF) Provides a
detailed overview of the major provisions of COBRA.
Consumer Information on
Health Plans Provides fact sheets, booklets, and other health plan
information from the Department's Employee Benefits Security Administration
(EBSA).
Compliance
Assistance Provides publications and other materials to assist employers
and employee benefit plan practitioners in understanding and complying with the
requirements of ERISA as it applies to the administration of employee pension
and welfare benefit plans.
Portability of
Health Coverage (HIPAA) Frequently Asked Questions Provides answers to
questions including "what is HIPAA?" and "how does crediting for prior coverage
work under HIPAA?"
Your Employer's
Bankruptcy: How Will it Affect Your Employee Benefits? Provides
information on bankruptcys effect on pension and group health plans.
Health Coverage
Portability (PDF) Provides information about major provisions of the
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the Newborns' and Mothers'
Health Protection Act, the Mental Health Parity Act, and the Women's Health and
Cancer Rights Act.
Pension and Health
Care Coverage...Questions and Answers for Dislocated Workers Provides
answers to common questions asked by dislocated workers about their pension and
health benefits.
Top 10 Ways to
Make Your Health Benefits Work for You (Español) Provides information to
help you make informed decisions about health plans.
Work Changes
Require Health Choices (Español)
Provides information on protecting your health care rights when your work
life changes.
Life Changes
Require Health Choices (Español)
Provides guidance on making health benefit decisions following key life
events such as marriage or the birth or adoption of a child.
Frequently Asked Questions
for Participants & Beneficiaries Related to the Events of September
11th Provides answers to the most frequently asked questions by workers
and their families whose pension and/or health plan benefits have been impacted
by the events of September 11, 2001.
Frequently Asked Questions
for Reservists Being Called to Active Duty Related to their Pension and Health
Benefits Provides answers to the most frequently asked questions about
pension and health benefits by National Guard and reserve members being called
to active duty as a result of the events of September 11, 2001.
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