Who Is Eligible For Continuation Coverage Under COBRA?
A qualified beneficiary under COBRA includes an employee, spouse, or dependent child who is covered under the group health plan on the day before the qualifying event . A child born to or placed for adoption with a covered employee during a period of COBRA coverage is also a qualified beneficiary if COBRA has been elected and the child has been enrolled upon birth or adoption. Note that an event is a qualifying event only if it causes the qualified beneficiary to lose coverage under the plan. Qualifying Events for Employees are: Termination of employment, other than for gross misconduct; Reduction in hours; Notifying the employer that the employee will not return to work from a Family and Medical Leave Act leave of absence. Qualifying Events for Spouses are: Termination of the covered employee’s employment, other than for gross misconduct; Reduction in the hours worked by the covered employee; Death of the covered employee; Divorce or legal separation from the covered employee; Covered
