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COBRA Continuation

New COBRA Laws

Federal law requires that employers sponsoring group health plans with more than 20 employees offer their employees and their families the opportunity for a temporary extension of health coverage (called "continuation coverage") at group rates, in certain instances, where coverage under the plan would otherwise end. This section is intended to inform you, in a summary fashion, of your rights and obligations under the continuation coverage provisions of the law. (Both you and your spouse/dependents should take the time to read this section carefully).

If you are the employee of California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) covered by a health, dental and/or vision plan, you have the right to choose this continuation coverage if you lose your group coverage because of a reduction in your hours of employment or the termination of your employment (for reasons other than gross misconduct on your part).

If you are the spouse/dependent of an employee covered by the health, dental and/or vision plans, you have the right to choose continuation coverage for yourself if you lose group coverage under the health, dental and/or vision plans for any of the following reasons:

• The death of your spouse,
• A termination of your spouse's employment (for reasons other than gross misconduct) or reduction in a spouse's hours of employment with CSULB,
• Divorce or legal separation from your spouse, or
• Your spouse becomes entitled to Medicare.

In the case of a dependent child of an employee covered by the health, dental and/or vision plans, he/she has the right to continuation coverage if group coverage under the health, dental and/or vision plans is lost for any of the following reasons:

1. The death of a parent,

2. A termination of a parent's employment (for reasons other than gross misconduct) or reduction in a parent's hours of employment with CSULB,

3. Parent's divorce or legal separation,

4. A parent becomes entitled to Medicare, or

5. The dependent ceases to be a "dependent child" under the health, dental and/or vision. plans. (Age 23, unless permanently disabled and unable to be self supporting).

Under the law, the employee or family member has the responsibility to inform California State University, Long Beach, Payroll & Benefit Services Office of a divorce, legal separation, a child losing dependent status, or Social Security Disability determination within sixty (60) days of the event or the date on which coverage would be lost under the health, dental and/or vision plans, whichever is later.