Question of the Week

Q.- How does a person on COBRA get a disability extension? Does the person just need a doctor’s note to be eligible for coverage beyond 18 months?

A.- To be eligible for an extension of the maximum COBRA period to 29 months, the individual must have a determination of disability from the Social Security Administration.

The following conditions must be met:

1. The initial qualifying event must be the covered employee’s termination of employment or reduction in hours;
2. The qualified beneficiary (employee or spouse or child) must be determined by the Social Security Administration to have been disabled during the first 60 days of COBRA coverage; and
3. The qualified beneficiary must provide BAS a copy of the Social Security determination within 60 days after the later of the date of the Social Security disability determination or the date of the qualifying event (and within the 18 month COBRA period).