Q.- An employee just got a divorce. The spouse was removed from our health coverage, and so were the employee’s children. Is this a qualifying event for all of his family members?
A.- The divorce will be a COBRA qualifying event for the ex-spouse, but it may not be a COBRA qualifying event for the children. If the employee is voluntarily dropping coverage for his children, it will not be a qualifying event. If the divorce decree requires the ex-spouse to provide coverage for the children and that is the reason the employee is dropping coverage for the children, some employers may offer the children the right to a COBRA election.
