What Specific Events (“Triggering Events”) can be Qualifying Events?
The statute specifies six triggering events that, if they result in a loss of coverage, can be qualifying events: • Death of the covered employee; • Voluntary or involuntary termination of the covered employee’s employment other than by reason of gross misconduct (note that a retirement is considered a termination of employment); • Reduction in hours of the covered employee’s employment; • Divorce or legal separation of the covered employee from the employee’s spouse; • Dependent child ceasing to be a dependent child under the generally applicable requirements of the plan; and • An employer’s bankruptcy, but only with respect to health coverage for retirees and their families.
