another COBRA qualifying event, the affected Dependent(s) may elect to extend their COBRA continuation coverage for an additional 18 months (7 months if the secondary event occurs within the disability extension period) for a maximum of 36 months from the initial qualifying event. The second qualifying event must occur before the end of the initial 18 months of COBRA continuation coverage or within the disability extension period discussed below. Under no circumstances will COBRA continuation coverage be available for more than 36 months from the initial qualifying event. Secondary qualifying events are: your death; your divorce or legal separation; or, for a Dependent child, failure to continue to qualify as a Dependent under the Plan. Disability Extension If, after electing COBRA continuation coverage due to your termination of employment or reduction in work hours, you or one of your Dependents is determined by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to be totally disabled under Title II or XVI of the SSA, you and all of your Dependents who have elected COBRA continuation coverage may extend such continuation for an additional 11 months, for a maximum of 29 months from the initial qualifying event. To qualify for the disability extension, all of the following requirements must be satisfied: SSA must determine that the disability occurred prior to or within 60 days after the disabled individual elected COBRA continuation coverage; and A copy of the written SSA determination must be provided to the Plan Administrator within 60 calendar days after the date the SSA determination is made AND before the end of the initial 18-month continuation period. If the SSA later determines that the individual is no longer disabled, you must notify the Plan Administrator within 30 days after the date the final determination is made by SSA. The 11-month disability extension will terminate for all covered persons on the first day of the month that is more than 30 days after the date the SSA makes a final determination that the disabled individual is no longer disabled. All causes for “Termination of COBRA Continuation” listed below will also apply to the period of disability extension. 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). 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
23
myCigna.com
Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online