What is COBRA Coverage?
COBRA coverage is a continuation of Plan coverage when it would otherwise end because of a life event. This is also called a “Qualifying Event”. Specific Qualifying Events may be:
- Your hours of employment are reduced
- Your employment ends for any reason other than your gross misconduct.
Or, if you are a spouse of a Blue Springs School District (BSSD) employee you may become eligible for COBRA continuation when:
- Your spouse dies;
- Your spouse’s hours of employment are reduced;
- Your spouse’s employment ends for any reason other than his or her gross misconduct; or
- You become divorced or legally separated from your spouse. Also, if your spouse (the employee) reduces or eliminates your group health coverage in anticipation of a divorce or legal separation and a divorce or legal separation later occurs, then the divorce or legal separation may be considered a Qualifying Event for you even though your coverage was reduced or eliminated before the divorce or separation.
Dependents of a BSSD employee may also be eligible for continuation coverage when a qualifying event occurs such as:
- The parent-employee dies;
- The parent-employee’s hours of employment are reduced;
- The parent-employee’s employment ends for any reason other than his or her gross misconduct; or
- The child stops being eligible for coverage under the Plan as a “dependent child.”
After a Qualifying Event occurs and any required notice of that event is properly provided to the Plan, COBRA coverage must be offered to each person losing Plan coverage who is a “Qualified Beneficiary.” You, your spouse, and your dependent children could become Qualified Beneficiaries and would be entitled to elect COBRA if coverage under the Plan is lost because of the Qualifying Event. (Certain newborns, newly adopted children, and alternate recipients under QMCSOs may also be Qualified Beneficiaries. Under the Plan, Qualified Beneficiaries who elect COBRA must pay for COBRA coverage.
Initial Notice of COBRA Continuation Coverage Rights
Loss of Coverage
The right to COBRA coverage was created by a federal law, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA). COBRA coverage can become available to you, your spouse and dependent children when coverage under the Plan would otherwise end. For more information about your rights and obligations under the Plan and under federal law, you should review the Plan’s Summary Plan Description or contact the Plan Administrator at 816-224-5258 or the COBRA Administrator/NextLevel HR, Dayla Fullerton, PHR,SHRM-CP.