If you have any COBRA related questions, please contact Joan Zaw and Debbie Poon.

The Federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) requires that the City offer employees, retirees and their families the opportunity to continue group health and/or welfare fund coverage in certain instances where the coverage would otherwise terminate. The monthly premium will be 102% of the group rate. All group health benefits, including Optional Riders, are available. The maximum period of coverage is 36 months.

Information and Forms

• NYC COBRA Form, Notice of Rights and COBRA Rates – January 2023
• NYC Health Benefits Program COBRA Page
• PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund COBRA Enrollment Form – must be returned within 60 days of the COBRA event
• PSC-CUNY Welfare Fund COBRA Page

COBRA Eligibility

Employees Not Eligible for Medicare — Employees whose health and/or welfare fund coverages are terminated due to a reduction in hours of employment or termination of employment (for reasons other than gross misconduct). Termination of employment includes unpaid leaves of absence of any kind. More information concerning situations involving termination due to gross misconduct is available from your agency benefits representative.

Spouse/Domestic Partner Not Eligible for Medicare — A Spouse/Domestic Partner who loses coverage for any of the following reasons: 1) death of the City employee or retiree;  2) termination of the employee’s City employment (for reasons other than gross misconduct); 3) loss of health coverage due to a reduction in the employee’s hours of employment;  4) divorce from the City employee or retiree; 5) termination of domestic partnership with the City employee or retiree; 6) retirement of the employee.

Dependent Children Not Eligible for Medicare — Dependent children who lose coverage for any of the following reasons: 1) death of a covered parent (the City employee or retiree); 2) the termination of a covered parent’s employment (for reasons other than gross misconduct); 3) loss of health coverage due to the covered parent’s reduction in hours of employment; 4) the dependent ceases to be a “dependent child” under the terms of the Health Benefits Program; 5) retirement of the covered parent.

More information about COBRA can be found on the NYC Office of Labor Relations page.

Young Adult Option “Through Age 29”

New York State law (Chapter 240 of the Laws of 2009) allows young adults through age 29 to be covered through a parent’s group health insurance policy under a “Young Adult Option.”

Young Adult Option, Through Age 29, (NYS Law Chapter 240)