COBRA

 COBRA, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, allows you and/or your eligible dependents the option to temporarily extend health coverage if benefits terminate.  The maximum amount of time you can extend your health coverage varies and depends on the reason coverage is lost.

When electing COBRA coverage, you may choose the benefit plan under which you were last covered or you may move to a less costly plan.  Life insurance and disability are not included in the COBRA benefits but COBRA does let you purchase medical only or medical benefits with dental and optical, as the plan allows.  The cost to extend health coverage depends on the plan and package you select.

If you or one of your dependents loses health benefits through the Fund, let us know immediately.  It is obvious to us if health coverage is lost due to the termination of employment as the company stops paying contributions.  However, it is not so obvious when an eligible dependent loses coverage because of one of the following “Qualifying Events”:    

• A divorce,
• A separation;
• A dependent child turns 19 and is not a full time student,
• A dependent child between the ages of 19 and 23 ceases to be a full time student,
• A dependent child who is a full time student turns 23,or
• The employee’s death.

        If one of the above “qualifying events” occurs or if coverage is lost due to the termination of employment or reduction in hours, you and/or your dependent must notify the Fund Office.  However, the Fund will accept notice of termination of employment or a reduction in hours from your employer through a timely filed contribution report.  Notification of the qualifying event must be in writing (email or fax accepted) and received by the Fund Office within 60 days of the date the event took place.  If notification is not received by the Fund within the 60 day time frame, the right to COBRA continuation coverage for this “qualifying event” is no longer available.

Packages, providing additional COBRA information and the cost to continue this coverage are available through the Fund Office.  Call 804-282-3131 or 1-800-852-0806 to request this information.  You may also email your request to yourfund@tjc83funds.net.