Understand COBRA

Under certain circumstances, you can have extend COBRA insurance coverage and it’s crucial that you take advantage of this if you qualify. In order to qualify for additional months of COBRA coverage, the beneficiary must have a ruling by the Social Security Administration that the beneficiary became disabled within the first 60 days of COBRA continuation coverage. Then the beneficiary must send the plan a copy of the SSA ruling letter within 60 days of receipt but prior to the expiration of the 18 month period (of original COBRA coverage). If they do both then the entire family qualifies for an additional 11 months of COBRA coverage, though the insurance plan can charge 150% of the original premium cost for that extended period.

If you decided to waive COBRA coverage during the initial election period and then change your mind, you can do so as long as you revoke the waiver of coverage before the end of the election period. If the election period has passed then unfortunately you cannot revoke your waiver. After you revoke the waiver, simply elect COBRA coverage but the plan only needs to provide continuation coverage beginning the date of the waiver.

For example, if you elected to revoke your waiver of COBRA coverage on January 15th because you suffered an event on the 14th, your COBRA plan may not cover you for that event on the 14th because they are only obligated to cover you after the date of your waiver.