COBRA eligibility

COBRA and Medicare

You are eligible for COBRA if both of the following conditions apply:

  1. You are enrolled in job-based insurance (employer group health plan) where COBRA applies
  2. And, you have a “qualifying event” (such as termination of employment) that causes you to lose job-based insurance. The type of qualifying event also determines the length of COBRA coverage: See table below for details.
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Qualifying Event Length of COBRA
Employee retires, is terminated, or has a reduction in work hours. 18 months
Employee develops a disability and has a reduction in work hours. 18 months
Employee develops a disability and is eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) during the initial 18-month COBRA period. 18 months + 11 months extra
Employee is terminated for gross misconduct. Not applicable
Employee’s spouse and dependent children lose job-based insurance because:
  • Employee becomes eligible for Medicare
  • Employee and spouse are divorced
  • Dependent child loses dependent child status
  • Employee dies
 36 months
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If you already have Medicare, you are still eligible for COBRA if you meet the conditions above. Be sure to know how COBRA and Medicare coordinate before making enrollment decisions.