Benefits Continuation (COBRA)

COBRA is part of a federal law enacted in 1986 requiring certain employers to offer employees and their families an opportunity for the temporary extension of health care coverage under certain instances where health care coverage would otherwise end. At the time a new employee becomes eligible for health care coverage through Company, that employee will be provided literature notifying them and their families of their rights under COBRA. This should be read carefully, both by the employee and their family, and retained for future reference.

If an employee's hours are reduced and this reduction of hours results in loss of health care coverage, or an employee is terminated for any reason other than gross misconduct, that employee and their family will be provided literature notifying them of their right to elect coverage under COBRA. If elected by the employee or the employee's dependents, coverage will continue for a period of time specified by the law at the expense of the employee or the employee's dependents.

In order that Western Virginia EMS may comply with this law, we require that the employee notify the Company of any change in status. Specifically, those changes are:

Employee's change of address

Change of address of spouse or dependent

Birth or death of a dependent

Death of a spouse

Divorce or legal separation from a spouse

Medicare eligibility for employee or spouse

A child ceases to be eligible for coverage under the plan as a “dependent child”

You will be provided with the details of your rights under COBRA under a separate letter.

Policy No.  3.13  Issued  1/1/2019  Applicable  12/6/2018