COBRA

Continuing your health coverage with COBRA

When life changes affect your health coverage, you have options. Under federal law (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA), you and your eligible dependents can temporarily extend your medical, dental, and healthcare flexible spending account (FSA) coverage after events that would normally end your benefits. COBRA lets you keep the same or similar coverage at group rates, though you’ll need to pay the full premium yourself.

Learn more about your medical plan on this page:

Qualifying events for COBRA coverage

You have the right to choose COBRA benefits when your coverage is lost due to:

  • A reduction in work hours
  • Termination of employment (other than for gross misconduct), including retirement

Your covered dependents also have the right to elect COBRA coverage, independent of your choice. This means they can continue their coverage even if you don’t.

If you are a covered dependent, events that qualify you for COBRA coverage include:

  • The employee’s death
  • The employee’s termination (other than for gross misconduct) or reduction in work hours at IU
  • Divorce or legal separation from the employee
  • The employee’s entitlement to Medicare
  • A covered individual no longer meets the definition of a dependent (e.g., a child getting married or reaching the age limit)

These situations do not qualify for COBRA:

  • A change in your insurance carrier or switching to a less generous plan.
  • Submitting a resignation. Only when an employee actually terminates does a qualifying event occur.
  • Filing for legal separation. Only a divorce decree qualifies as a triggering event for COBRA.

Required notice: keeping IU updated

You’re responsible for notifying the University within 30 days of the event or the date your coverage would end, whichever is later. To ensure you and your dependents receive the COBRA coverage you’re entitled to, please keep Indiana University informed of any qualifying life events.

Once we’re aware of a qualifying event, we’ll send you a COBRA offer letter through our administrator, HRPro. This letter will outline your COBRA rights and include an application. You and your dependents then have 60 days from the date of the letter or the date your coverage ends (whichever comes later) to elect COBRA continuation coverage.

Each qualified beneficiary has a separate right to elect COBRA, but a parent can elect on behalf of their children, and an employee or spouse can elect on behalf of all qualified beneficiaries.

COBRA coverage length

The length of your COBRA coverage depends on the reason for your qualifying event:

  • 18 months: When coverage is lost due to termination or reduction in hours
  • 29 months: When coverage is lost and the individual becomes disabled within 60 days of termination
  • 36 months: When coverage is lost due to death, divorce, legal separation, or loss of dependent child status

Extending your COBRA coverage

In certain circumstances, you may be eligible to extend your COBRA coverage:

  • Disability: An 11-month extension may be available if you become disabled (as defined by Social Security) within 60 days of your termination.
  • Second qualifying event: An 18-month extension may be available to spouses and dependent children if a second qualifying event (such as the death of the covered employee) occurs during the first 18 months of COBRA coverage.

Monthly premiums

Medical and dental plans are separate, and different coverage levels may be selected for each plan.

Anthem PPO HDHP monthly premiums
Coverage LevelMedicalDental
One participant$503.09$42.70
Participant and child(ren)$962.69$76.90
Participant and spouse$1,340.16$100.31
Participant and family$1,517.49$146.30
Anthem PPO $500 Deductible monthly premiums
Coverage LevelMedicalDental
One participant$1,204.50$42.70
Participant and child(ren)$2,288.44$76.90
Participant and spouse$3,192.23$100.31
Participant and family$3,613.80$146.30

IU resident plan monthly premiums
Coverage LevelMedicalDental
Resident$690.21$19.24
Resident and child(ren)$1,242.38$47.78
Resident and spouse$1,449.45$38.69
Resident and family$2,070.64$59.33

Paying for COBRA coverage

After your initial enrollment, HRPro—IU’s COBRA administrator—will mail you payment slips for the remainder of the current year, and again in late December for the upcoming year. You can pay your COBRA premiums monthly or submit multiple payments at once, whichever is more convenient for you.

Payments can be made by check or electronically through the HRPro website. You’ll receive detailed payment instructions with your COBRA election paperwork.

Important notes:

  • Payment deadline: You have 30 days from the start of your coverage period to make your monthly payment.
  • Coverage reinstatement: Your coverage is reinstated after the initial premium payment has been received, and generally will be within 2-3 days of receipt of your premium payment. Coverage will be restored retroactively to the date of your qualifying event.

COBRA coverage and end dates

Aside from the maximum coverage lengths mentioned earlier, your COBRA coverage may end for these reasons:

  • COBRA premiums aren’t paid on time
  • You become covered under another group health plan
  • You become entitled to Medicare
  • IU no longer offers group health coverage to any employee
  • You became eligible for extended COBRA due to disability and are no longer considered disabled

Please let us know right away if any of these changes happen for you. This helps us keep your records up-to-date and prevents any unexpected lapses in your health coverage.

Resources and contact information

For questions about COBRA coverage, contact HRPro:

Resources and forms:

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