COBRA Trigger/Qualifying Events
The events below may trigger a special enrollment period for an employee or dependent that did not enroll in coverage when they were initially eligible or provide an opportunity to continue their current coverage through COBRA. Refer to plan documents for complete details.
Special Enrollment Period Triggers
- Birth or adoption/legal guardianship
- Carrier violation
- Cessation of COBRA/CalCOBRA (max coverage must be exhausted)
- COBRA continuation ends
- Court order
- Death
- Dependent status is lost
- Divorce or legal separation
- Employee enrollment in Medicare
- Lay off
- Loss of dependent child status under the plan
- Loss of Medicare
- Loss of minimum essential coverage
- Loss of provider (specific conditions)
- Marriage
- Misinformed current coverage was MC
- Reduction in employer contribution
- Reduction in hours of employment
- Release from incarceration
- Relocation/out-of-service area
- Return from active duty
- Termination (other than gross misconduct)
COBRA Qualifying Events
- Death
- Divorce or legal separation
- Employee enrollment in Medicare
- Lay off
- Loss of dependent child status under the plan
- Reduction in hours of employment
- Termination (other than gross misconduct)
Qualifying Event Information
Details within the Qualifying Event Information table do not apply to COBRA Qualifying Events
Carrier | Days to Enroll | Date Change Effective | New Premium Effective |
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Aetna |
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Anthem Blue Cross |
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CaliforniaChoice |
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Cigna + Oscar |
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Covered CA for Small Business |
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Health Net |
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Kaiser Permanente |
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UnitedHealthcare |
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*For marriage/domestic partnership/stepchild, the effective date is based on when the required documentation is received. If received before the 16th of the month, then coverage begins on the date of the event and premiums are charged for the full month. Otherwise coverage begins the 1st of the next month. For birth, adoption, legal guardianship, eligible dependent child, the effective date is based on the birth date or date of placement. If before the 16th of the month, then coverage begins on the 1st of that month and premiums are charged for the month. If on or after the 16th of the month, then dependent is covered at no cost under the subscriber from birth date or date of placement to the end of the month. Then coverage for the dependent will begin on the 1st of the next month.