Q.- An employee cancelled dental coverage for his family in June when he was going through a divorce. We just received a copy of the divorce papers showing that the divorce was finalized last week (August 30th). We have to offer the ex-wife the opportunity to continue her medical coverage under COBRA, but can she also have dental coverage? That coverage stopped 2 months ago.
A.- Yes. The ex-spouse should be offered COBRA now (with divorce as the qualifying event) and the offer should include the dental coverage that was terminated in June. There will be a lapse in dental coverage between the time the coverage was terminated and the COBRA coverage starts (if she elects to continue dental).
