COBRA Continuation Rights

Under federal law--the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)--you and your dependents may be eligible to temporarily extend group sponsored health care benefits.

In order to continue coverage, you or your covered dependents must pay the full cost of that coverage (your share plus the University's share)--plus a 2% administrative fee.

Because continued coverage under COBRA is available to you and your dependents, be sure to share this information with the rest of your family. Continued coverage under the Health and Dental Plans may be purchased if coverage ends because:

• your employment with the University ends for any reason other than gross misconduct;
• your regularly scheduled work hours are reduced to less than full-time;
• you transfer to an employee group that is not eligible for coverage under the plan;
• your spouse or same sex domestic partner (if applicable) no longer qualifies as a dependent because of your divorce or legal separation or termination of the domestic partnership;
• your child no longer meets the dependent eligibility requirements;
• you die.

If you or your dependents purchase continued coverage, it will be the same as the coverage lost because of one of these events. However, if the plan covering active employees changes, those changes also will apply to your continued coverage. You (and your dependents) can choose different coverage at any enrollment period that falls during the period in which benefits are being continued.

Monthly Premium Rates

How Long Coverage Can Continue

If you or a dependent elects continued coverage, it will begin on the day regular coverage ends due to one of the previously mentioned events. How long this continued coverage lasts will depend on your situation, as shown below. If more than one situation applies, the maximum period of continuation is a total of 36 months.

Continued coverage ends when:

• you or your dependents do not make the required Contributions on a timely basis;
• the person continuing coverage becomes entitled to Medicare;
• the person continuing coverage becomes covered under another group Medical (or Dental or Vision Care, as applicable) Plan (unless the other group plan has a preexisting condition limitation that affects that person);
• in the case of a maximum 29-month extension due to disability, a determination is made that the individual is no longer disabled (after the first 18 months); or
• the University no longer maintains any group Medical (or Dental or Vision Care, as applicable) plan.

The Benefits Office may provide you and your dependents with more information about COBRA and what it will cost to continue coverage.

Notification

The University will notify you (or your dependents) of your right to purchase continued coverage through COBRA following a change in your employment status with the University or your death.

If there is a change in your spouse's or dependent's status because you become divorced or legally separated or your child no longer meets the eligibility requirements, you must notify the University within 60 days of the end of the month in which the change occurs for your dependent to be eligible for continued coverage. To do so, complete and return the appropriate form to the Benefits Office. The University will then notify your spouse or dependent(s) of their right to purchase continued coverage.

To extend coverage for up to 29 months due to disability (as described above), you must notify the University of the disabled person's eligibility for Social Security disability benefits before the first 18 months of continued coverage end, and within 60 days of Social Security's determination of eligibility for benefits.

How to Purchase Continued Health Coverage

You or your dependents have 60 days in which to exercise your right to purchase continued coverage. The 60-day period starts the date you are notified of your right to purchase continued coverage or the date regular coverage under the Health and Dental Plans ends, whichever is later. You may not en-roll for continued coverage once the 60-day election period ends.

The Benefits Division will contact you or your dependents after one of the previously described events occurs. You are not required to provide evidence of good health. If you choose to continue coverage, you have 45 days from the date group coverage ends to make your first payment. Once your continued coverage begins, the claims administrator must receive your monthly payments prior to the start of each month.

Maximum Continuation Period