COBRA

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, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH) covered by a health, dental and/or vision plan(s), 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 plan(s), you have the right to choose continuation coverage for yourself if you lose group coverage under the health, dental and/or vision plan(s) 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 CSUDH,
  • Divorce or legal separation from your spouse,
  • Dissolution of Registered Domestic Partnership,
  • CalPERS non-compliance, 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 plan(s), he/she has the right to continuation coverage if group coverage under the health, dental and/or vision plan(s) is lost for any of the following reasons:

  • The death of a parent,
  • A termination of a parent's employment (for reasons other than gross misconduct) or reduction in a parent's hours of employment with CSUDH,
  • Parent's divorce or legal separation,
  • Dissolution of Registered Domestic Partnership,
  • CalPERS non-compliance,
  • A parent becomes entitled to Medicare, or
  • The dependent ceases to be a "dependent child" under the health, dental and/or vision plans. (Age 26, 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, Dominguez Hills, Payroll Services and Benefits 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 plan(s), whichever is later.