OSP COBRA POLICY

Under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), or a state mini-COBRA law, employees may be allowed to continue their health insurance benefits, at their own expense, for a set number of months after experiencing a qualifying event. Length of coverage may be dependent upon the qualifying event.

To qualify for continuation of health benefits, the covered individual must experience a qualifying event that would otherwise cause them to lose group health coverage.

The following are qualifying events:

For Employees:

Voluntary or involuntary termination of employment for reasons other than gross misconduct

Reduction in numbers of hours worked

For Spouses:

Loss of coverage by the employee because of one of the qualifying events listed above

Covered employee becomes eligible for Medicare

Divorce or legal separation of the covered employee

Death of the covered employee

For Dependent Children:

Loss of coverage because of any of the qualifying events listed for spouses

Loss of status as a dependent child under the plan rules

See Human Resources for additional information.