Benefits

QUALIFIED BENEFICIARY

QUALIFYING
EVENT

LENGTH OF CONTINUATION

Employee and/or Covered Dependent

Voluntary or  Involuntary Termination of Employment or Retirement

Reduction of Hours resulting in ineligibility for benefits

18 Months
(see note 1)

Disabled Employee and/or Disabled Covered Dependent(s)

Voluntary or Involuntary Termination of Employment or Retirement

Reduction of Hours resulting in ineligibility for benefits

29 Months
(see note 2)

Covered

Dependent(s)

Death of Employee

Divorce or Legal Separation

Overage Dependent (Child ceases to qualify as dependent due to age or no longer full time student)

36 Months

Retiree and/or Covered Dependent

Employee who retires on or after age 60 and who has worked at least five years prior to the termination of Employment

60 months from the date of employee’s retirement
(see note 3)

Termination of COBRA Coverage

1. If any required premium payment is not paid when due;

2. If you or covered dependents become covered under another group health plan that does not contain any exclusion or limitation for any of your pre-existing conditions;

3. If you or covered dependents become entitled to Medicare benefits;

4. If all Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District group health plans are terminated;

5. If coverage is extended to 29 months due to disability, a determination that the individual is no longer disabled. Note: Federal law requires that you inform the Risk Management/Benefits Office of any final determination that the individual is no longer disabled within 30 days of such determination.

Notes:

(1) Employees who have terminated employment or experience a loss of coverage due to a reduction in hours may continue their coverage for up to 18 months. If another qualifying event (such as death of the employee, divorce, legal separation, or change in dependent status) occurs during the original 18-month period of coverage, the period of coverage for your spouse and dependent children, if any, may be extended for an additional 18 months, resulting in a total of 36 months of coverage from the date of your termination or reduction in hours of employment. To receive the extension, you and/or your spouse and dependent children must notify the Risk Management/Benefit Office within 60 days of the occurrence of these events.

(2) Individuals who qualify for Social Security disability benefits may be eligible for an additional 11 months of coverage as of the COBRA effective date (for a total of 29 months). The extension will only apply if the individual is disabled at the time of the COBRA qualifying event or within 60 days of COBRA continuation coverage. The premium for the additional 11 months of coverage is equal to the premium plus an additional 50%. If eligible, please provide documentation issued by Social Security to this office.

(3) Extended COBRA coverage terminates on the earlier of the date the former employee reaches age 65 or the date another COBRA terminating event occurs, such as coverage under another group health plan. COBRA continuation for a spouse terminates five (5) years from the date the former employee terminated employment. Up to 213% of the applicable group rate may be charged for the extended continuation period for this California law.