| The
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA),
a federal law, allows you and/or your dependents to continue
your dental coverage at your own expense, if you or they
become ineligible for these benefits due to termination
or change in appointment status.
Eligibility
for COBRA
You
and/or your dependents may become ineligible for University
benefits and eligible for COBRA continuation of benefits
if you experience one of the following changes in status:
You
and your dependents
- Your
employment terminates, or
- Your
job appointment percentage is reduced.
Your
dependents
-
You die,
-
You obtain a divorce, or
-
Your dependent child no longer qualifies as a covered
dependent because he or she gets married, becomes too
old for dependent coverage, etc.
Benefits
You Can Continue
Faculty
or staff members may continue dental plan insurance for
up to 18 months. Dependents who lose coverage as a result
of a loss of eligibility status may continue coverage for
up to 36 months.
Notification
If you
lose eligibility for University benefits based on your status
change(s), the University is obligated under the COBRA legislation
to mail to you information on COBRA, including the benefits
you can continue, time limits for enrolling, dependents
you may enroll, and the length of time you can continue
your benefits under COBRA. The HRRIS Benefits Transaction
Team will be aware of changes to your status and will automatically
mail to you the appropriate forms for COBRA continuation.
Dependent
Loss of Eligibility
If your
dependents lose coverage due to your death, divorce, or
their ineligibility, the HRRIS Benefits Transaction Team
will not know of these changes, and therefore, will not
automatically mail COBRA information to them. You or someone
you designate must notify the HR/Payroll Service Center
within 60 days of the changes so your dependents will be
eligible for COBRA coverage.
Your
Dependents and COBRA
Do not
remove currently covered dependents from your benefits during
Open Enrollment. If you do, continuation of benefits under
the federal law COBRA is not available to them. Children
who turn age 25 will be automatically removed from coverage
at the end of the month they attain 25 years of age and will
be offered COBRA.
If you
need to remove dependents because they are no longer eligible
for other reasons, you must contact the HR/Payroll Service
Center within 60 days following the loss of eligibility
separate from Open Enrollment. Only dependents removed within
the required time frame will receive COBRA information.
Important
Deadline
You have
only 60 days following your loss of eligibility for benefits
to elect COBRA coverage. If you do not receive your COBRA
information within a reasonable length of time (no longer
than 14 days from your last day of benefits coverage), you
need to call the HR/Payroll Service Center immediately.
COBRA Dental Rates |
