CMS has prepared numerous questions and answers to assist qualified beneficiaries, state and local government employers and their group health plan administrators in understanding their rights and responsibilities with respect to public sector Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) continuation of coverage. CMS answers questions pertaining to the following sub-areas of COBRA-related inquiry: Applicability; COBRA Notices; Premiums; COBRA Coverage; Core and Non-Core Coverage; Coverage of Dependents; Multiple Qualifying Events; Other Group Health Plan Coverage and COBRA; Medicare and COBRA; Enforcement. (See below for related link inside CMS.)

If an answer is based on a particular statutory provision, a citation for that provision is provided. (The public sector COBRA law is set forth in title XXII of the Public Health Service Act; 42 U.S.C. 300bb-1 through 300bb-8. Click on "Overview" on the left navigation bar and see related link outside CMS at the bottom of that page.)

Sometimes an answer is based on an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulation, which applies to private sector COBRA situations. While IRS COBRA regulations do not have force and effect with respect to public sector COBRA situations, and CMS has no authority to interpret IRS regulations, we rely on those regulations for guidance to the extent that there is no basis for differentiating between private and public sector COBRA. Accordingly, any reference to IRS regulations, which are set forth at 26 CFR §§ 54.4980B-1 through 54.4980B-10, is provided solely for informational purposes. 

Please note that any given COBRA-related Q & A will not necessarily remain on the website on a permanent basis. The website is programmed to automatically delete a Q & A that does not receive at least 50 "hits" in a 6-month period.  If you cannot find an answer to your specific question, you may e-mail us at phig@cms.hhs.gov.

Downloads
There are no Downloads
Related Links Inside CMS
COBRA Questions and Answers
Related Links Outside CMS
There are no Related Links Outside CMS

Page Last Modified: 11/20/2008 3:55:30 PM
Help with File Formats and Plug-Ins