Question of the Week - COBRA Election vs. Payment

Posted by BAS - 30 April, 2026

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Q.- Is it true a former employee can elect COBRA but not pay for it with the election?

A.- Yes. A COBRA continuant has 60 days to elect COBRA after a qualifying event and then 45 days from the election to pay for the coverage. Generally, an employer does not have to reinstate coverage until payment is received.


Benefit Allocation Systems (BAS) provides best-in-class, online solutions for: Employee Benefits Enrollment; COBRA; Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs); Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRAs); Leave of Absence Premium Billing (LOA); Affordable Care Act Record Keeping, Compliance & IRS Reporting (ACA); Group Insurance Premium Billing; Property & Casualty Premium Billing; and Payroll Integration.

MyEnroll360 can Integrate with any insurance carrier for enrollment eligibility management (e.g., Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Aetna, United Health Care, Kaiser, CIGNA and many others), and integrate with any payroll system for enrollment deduction management (e.g., Workday, ADP, Paylocity, PayCor, UKG, and many others).

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal, tax, or benefits advice. Readers should not rely on this information for taking (or not taking) any action relating to employment, compliance, or benefits. Always consult with a qualified professional before making decisions based on this content.

Topics: COBRA, COBRA Premium Billing, COBRA Administration, Question of the Week


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