COBRA Laws

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.

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 and timelines on how employees and family members may elect and pay for continuation coverage. It also requires employers and plans to provide notice and comply with other timeline requirements.

DOL Web Pages On COBRA

• 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.
  
• 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? (PDF)
  Provides information on the effect of bankruptcy on pension and group health plans.
  
• Retirement and Health Care Coverage...Questions and Answers for Dislocated Workers (PDF)
  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 (Espanol)
  Provides information to help you make informed decisions about health plans.
  
• Work Changes Require Health Choices (Espanol)
  Provides information on protecting your health care rights when your work life changes.
  
• Life Changes Require Health Choices (Espanol)
  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 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.

Training Courses For COBRA Laws

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