COBRA

Under California’s Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (CAL-COBRA) faculty members may be allowed to continue their health insurance benefits, at the faculty member’s expense, for up to 18 months after either voluntary or involuntary termination.

To qualify for CAL-COBRA continuation coverage, a faculty member must have a qualifying event that causes the faculty member to lose group health coverage. The following are considered qualifying events:

• • Voluntary or involuntary termination of employment for reasons other than gross misconduct
  • Reduction in numbers of hours worked

For spouses:

• Loss of coverage by the faculty member because of one of the qualifying events listed above
• Covered faculty member becomes eligible for Medicare
• Divorce or legal separation of the covered faculty member
• Death of the covered faculty member

For dependent children:

• Loss of coverage because of any of the qualifying events listed for spouses
• Loss of status as a dependent child under the plan rules