Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)

Employees, retirees, and their spouses and dependent children who are enrolled in any County sponsored health coverage have the right to continue the coverage upon the occurrence of a "qualifying event".

Qualifying events include but not limited to:

1. Employee termination (voluntary or involuntary as long as the employee was not discharged due to gross misconduct).
2. Reduction in hours of work for the County to less than 15 hours a week.
3. Divorce or legal separation of a covered spouse from a covered employee or retiree.
4. A covered child ceases to be a dependent as described under Termination of Coverage.

Coverage may be continued for up to 18 months for employees after a qualifying event (29 months if totally disabled). Spouses who have become eligible due to divorce or legal separation or children ceasing to be dependent have the right to continue existing coverage for up to 36 months after the qualifying event.

Please call the Benefits Administration Division at (301) 883-6380 to obtain additional information concerning COBRA.

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