Bcbs General Notice Of Cobra Continuation Coverage Rights Instruction
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4COBRA
General Notice of COBRA Continuation
Coverage Rights
Introduction
However, you and your family members are not entitled to
COBRA coverage if you are employed as a nonresident alien
You are receiving this notice because you have recently
who received no U.S. source income. Under the plan, qualified
become covered under one or more group health plans.
beneficiaries who elect COBRA continuation coverage must
The plan (or plans) under which you have become covered are
pay for COBRA continuation coverage.
listed at the end of this notice and are referred to collectively
in this notice as “the plan.” This notice contains important
What are Qualifying Events for a
information about your right to COBRA continuation
Covered Employee?
coverage, which is a temporary extension of coverage
If you are a covered employee, you will become a qualified
under the plan. This notice generally explains COBRA
beneficiary if you lose your coverage under the plan because
continuation coverage, when it may become available to
either one of the following qualifying events happens:
you and your family, and what you need to do to protect
•
Your hours of employment are reduced, or
the right to receive it.
•
Your employment ends for any reason other than your
gross misconduct.
When you become eligible for COBRA, you may also become
eligible for other coverage options that may cost less than
What are Qualifying Events for a
COBRA continuation coverage.
Covered Spouse?
If you are the spouse of a covered employee, you will become
The right to COBRA continuation coverage was created by a
a qualified beneficiary if you lose your coverage under the plan
federal law, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation
because any of the following qualifying events happens:
Act of 1985 (COBRA). COBRA continuation coverage can
•
Your spouse dies;
become available to you when you would otherwise lose
•
Your spouse’s hours of employment are reduced;
your group health coverage. It can also become available to
•
Your spouse’s employment ends for any reason other
other members of your family who are covered under the plan
than his or her gross misconduct;
when they would otherwise lose their group health coverage.
•
Your spouse becomes enrolled in Medicare
For more information about your rights and obligations under
(under Part A, Part B, or both); or
the plan and under federal law, you should review the plan’s
•
You become divorced from your spouse.
summary plan description or contact the Plan Administrator
If your spouse cancels your coverage under the plan in
for the plan. You will find the name, address and telephone
anticipation of divorce and a divorce later occurs, the divorce
number of the Plan Administrator at the end of this notice.You
may be considered a qualifying event even though you actually
may have other options available to you when you lose group
lost coverage under the plan earlier. If you timely notify the
health coverage. For example, you may be eligible to buy
Plan Administrator of the divorce and can establish that the
an individual plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
covered employee canceled your coverage under the plan in
By enrolling in coverage through the Marketplace, you may
anticipation of divorce, COBRA coverage may be available to
qualify for lower costs on your monthly premiums and lower
you beginning on the date of your divorce (but not for the
out-of-pocket costs. Additionally, you may qualify for a 30-day
period between the date your coverage ended and the date
special enrollment period for another group health plan for
of the divorce). See the rules below under “You Must Give
which you are eligible (such as a spouse’s plan), even if that
Notice of Some Qualifying Events” regarding your
plan generally doesn’t accept late enrollees.
obligation to provide timely notice to the Plan Administrator
What is COBRA Continuation Coverage?
and the procedures for doing so.
COBRA continuation coverage is a continuation of plan
coverage when coverage would otherwise end because of
What are Qualifying Events for Covered
a life event known as a “qualifying event.” Specific qualifying
Dependent Children?
events are listed later in this notice. After a qualifying event,
Your dependent children will become qualified beneficiaries
COBRA continuation coverage must be offered to each person
if they lose coverage under the plan because any of the
who is a “qualified beneficiary.” You, your spouse, and your
following qualifying events happens:
dependent children could become qualified beneficiaries if
•
The parent-employee dies;
coverage under the plan is lost because of the qualifying event.
•
The parent-employee’s hours of employment are reduced;
MKT-116 (Rev. 7-2014)
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