COBRA Insurance Deadlines

One of the most common questions people have about COBRA insurance is about timelines and timeframes for enrolling in COBRA insurance. Use the chart below to help you better understand your rights with COBRA insurance and important deadlines you need to make sure to follow. Like any federal law, the timelines are extremely important and not staying within the enrollment window will make you ineligible for COBRA insurance.

If you fail to sign up for COBRA within the enrollment window, miss a payment, or forget to notify your employer of changes you can lose your COBRA coverage and be without medical insurance.

COBRA Event	Timeline
Initial Notice of COBRA Rights from employer	Within 2 weeks, or 14 days, of enrollment in employer sponsored health plan

Qualifying Event Notice/Specific Notice/COBRA Election Form For an employee who is terminated or has their hours reduced Divorce or loss of dependent child status or if employee becomes eligible for Medicare	The employer has 30 days to notify the insurance company, who then has 14 days to contact you.

Qualifying Event Notice/Specific Notice/COBRA Election Form When there is a divorce, loss of dependent status, or employee is eligible for Medicare	Employee has 60 days to notify the employer of the change

Sign up for COBRA Insurance	You have 60 days from the date of the COBRA election notice

First premium payment is due	You have 45 days from COBRA selection to pay the first premium

Extension for Disability with COBRA	The disability has to happen within 60 days of COBRA coverage starting

COBRA insurance ends	Initial Term: 18 months Extension due to Disability: 29 months Extension for spouse, dependent child, or employee becoming eligible for Medicare: 36 months