COBRA Continuation Benefits

What is COBRA? Congress enacted continuation health care coverage requirements in Title X of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, commonly referred to as "COBRA".  The purpose of COBRA is to protect certain former employees and their dependents when they lose coverage under a group health plan.

If you are terminated or resign from the District you will be sent a notification covering deadlines to elect continuation coverage and the price of that coverage. 

You have a limited amount of time to respond to a COBRA notice, so please read it carefully!

For information about your specific situation please contact the Insurance Benefits Office at (805) 546-3161.

General COBRA information

When a qualified beneficiary experiences a qualifying event resulting in the loss of group health care coverage, he or she may continue under the same group plan for 18 to 36 months.

Who is a qualified beneficiary?

An employee covered under a group health plan; the employee's spouse or dependent who was enrolled at the time of the event.

What is a qualifying event?

  • Termination of employment or reduction of hours resulting in a loss of coverage for the employee.
  • For a spouse or dependent child, qualifying events include: the employee's loss of coverage as described above; a covered employee's death; divorce or legal separation from the employee; the employee's entitlement to Medicare; a child's loss of dependent status.

What are NOT qualifying events?

  • Termination for gross misconduct
  • Voluntary termination during open enrollment

What does it cost?

  • COBRA participants pay the full price of the plan premium plus a 2% administrative fee to the COBRA administrating company. The exact price will be shown when you are offered COBRA continuation.