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COBRA
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) provides for continued health insurance coverage at employees' own expense if the employee, their spouse, or their dependents lose medical, dental or vision insurance coverage because they terminate employment (for reasons other than gross misconduct); their work hours are reduced below the eligible status for these benefits; they die, divorce, or are legally separated; or a child ceases to be an eligible dependent. Applicable monthly COBRA rates are generally 102% of total premiums.
Consult the appropriate Summary Plan Descriptions for more details.
COBRA continuation coverage is administered by:
Benefit Concepts
20 Risho Avenue
East Providence, RI 02914
Telephone: 401-438-7100
COBRA SUBSIDY
The stimulus package signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009 included a temporary COBRA subsidy provision that became effective on March 1, 2009. The COBRA subsidy provisions include:
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For certain involuntarily terminated employees and their dependents, group health plans must accept 35% of the required COBRA premium as full payment for the coverage.
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In the case of certain employees involuntarily terminated since August 31, 2008 and their dependents, group health plans must allow a “second chance” COBRA election.
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Employers must provide notice of the availability of the subsidy and the second chance election (for some individuals the notice must be provided no later than April 18, 2009).
Additional information on the COBRA subsidy provisions, is available at:
http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/cobra.html and http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=204505,00.html.
Related Information:
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
- Notice of Privacy Practices - Revised 9/03
- Health Information Policy
- Authorization for the Use and/or Disclosure of Protected Health Information
- UMS HIPAA General Operating Policy and Forms
Contact Benefits
If you have a question about your benefits coverage, benefit deduction amounts or any other benefit related question, contact your Campus Benefits Office. Be prepared to give your Employee ID number.
Last Updated: June 12, 2009