Medicare Extension for Your Dependents When the qualifying event is your termination of employment or reduction in work hours and you became enrolled in Medicare (Part A, Part B or both) within the 18 months before the qualifying event, COBRA continuation coverage for your Dependents will last for up to 36 months after the date you became enrolled in Medicare. Your COBRA continuation coverage will last for up to 18 months from the date of your termination of employment or reduction in work hours. Termination of COBRA Continuation COBRA continuation coverage will be terminated upon the occurrence of any of the following: • the end of the COBRA continuation period of 18, 29 or 36 months, as applicable; • failure to pay the required premium within 30 calendar days after the due date; • cancellation of the Employer’s policy with Cigna; • after electing COBRA continuation coverage, a qualified beneficiary enrolls in Medicare (Part A, Part B, or both); • after electing COBRA continuation coverage, a qualified beneficiary becomes covered under another group health plan, unless the qualified beneficiary has a condition for which the new plan limits or excludes coverage under a pre- existing condition provision. In such case coverage will continue until the earliest of: the end of the applicable maximum period; the date the pre-existing condition provision is no longer applicable; or the occurrence of an event described in one of the first three bullets above; • any reason the Plan would terminate coverage of a participant or beneficiary who is not receiving continuation coverage (e.g., fraud). Moving Out of Employer’s Service Area or Elimination of a Service Area If you and/or your Dependents move out of the Employer’s service area or the Employer eliminates a service area in your location, your COBRA continuation coverage under the plan will be limited to out-of-network coverage only. In-network coverage is not available outside of the Employer’s service area. If the Employer offers another benefit option through Cigna or another carrier which can provide coverage in your location, you may elect COBRA continuation coverage under that option. Employer’s Notification Requirements Your Employer is required to provide you and/or your Dependents with the following notices: • An initial notification of COBRA continuation rights must be provided within 90 days after your (or your spouse’s)
coverage under the Plan begins (or the Plan first becomes subject to COBRA continuation requirements, if later). If you and/or your Dependents experience a qualifying event before the end of that 90-day period, the initial notice must be provided within the time frame required for the COBRA continuation coverage election notice as explained below. • A COBRA continuation coverage election notice must be provided to you and/or your Dependents within the following timeframes: • if the Plan provides that COBRA continuation coverage and the period within which an Employer must notify the Plan Administrator of a qualifying event starts upon the loss of coverage, 44 days after loss of coverage under the Plan; • if the Plan provides that COBRA continuation coverage and the period within which an Employer must notify the Plan Administrator of a qualifying event starts upon the occurrence of a qualifying event, 44 days after the qualifying event occurs; or • in the case of a multi-employer plan, no later than 14 days after the end of the period in which Employers must provide notice of a qualifying event to the Plan Administrator. How to Elect COBRA Continuation Coverage The COBRA coverage election notice will list the individuals who are eligible for COBRA continuation coverage and inform you of the applicable premium. The notice will also include instructions for electing COBRA continuation coverage. You must notify the Plan Administrator of your election no later than the due date stated on the COBRA election notice. If a written election notice is required, it must be post-marked no later than the due date stated on the COBRA election notice. If you do not make proper notification by the due date shown on the notice, you and your Dependents will lose the right to elect COBRA continuation coverage. If you reject COBRA continuation coverage before the due date, you may change your mind as long as you furnish a completed election form before the due date. Each qualified beneficiary has an independent right to elect COBRA continuation coverage. Continuation coverage may be elected for only one, several, or for all Dependents who are qualified beneficiaries. Parents may elect to continue coverage on behalf of their Dependent children. You or your spouse may elect continuation coverage on behalf of all the qualified beneficiaries. You are not required to elect COBRA continuation coverage in order for your Dependents to elect COBRA continuation.
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