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.

Updates

On May 4, 2020 the Employee Benefits Security Administration (“EBSA”) in the Department of Labor (“DOL”) and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued a Joint Notice providing new guidance on delays due to COVID-19 affecting all health and retirement plans, with implications for governmental plans.

The Joint Notice designates a period of time, called the “Outbreak Period,” that begins on March 1, 2020 and ends 60 days after the announced date of the end of national emergency related to COVID-19 or such other date announced by EBSA and IRS. Thus, the end date of the period is currently unknown.

• COBRA Notice of Qualifying Event. Extension of the 60-day period to notify the City of qualifying COBRA event.
  Under COBRA, the employee or family member has the responsibility of notifying the City agency payroll or personnel office and the applicable welfare fund of the death, divorce, domestic partnership termination, or change of address of an employee, or of a child’s losing dependent status within 60 days after the end of the Outbreak Period.
  When a qualifying event (such as an employee’s death, termination of employment, or reduction in hours) occurs, the employee and family will receive a COBRA information packet from the City describing continuation coverage options.

• COBRA Election Notice Deadlines. Extension of the date for the City to provide a COBRA election notice.
  When a COBRA qualifying event (such as an employee’s death, termination of employment, or reduction in hours) occurs, the employee and family will receive a COBRA rights information packet from the City describing continuation coverage options within 14 days of the end of the Outbreak Period.

• COBRA Election Periods. Extension of the 60-day election period for COBRA continuation coverage.
  To elect COBRA continuation of health coverage, the eligible person must complete a “COBRA – Continuation of Coverage Application. Employees and/or eligible family members can obtain application forms from their agency payroll or personnel office.  Please contact the welfare fund if you wish to purchase its benefits.
  Upon receiving notification of their COBRA rights, eligible persons electing COBRA continuation coverage must do so within 60 days after the end of the Outbreak Period.

• COBRA Premium Payment Deadlines. Extension of the date for making COBRA premium payments.
  Eligible persons electing COBRA continuation coverage must pay the initial premium within 45 days of their election. Premium payments will be made on a monthly basis. Payments after the initial payment will have a 30-day grace period. The premiums for COBRA coverage during the Outbreak Period must be paid within 30 days after the end of the Outbreak Period.

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