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COBRA

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) allows workers who lose their health care benefits to continue receiving the group health benefits covered by their plan in certain circumstances.  COBRA typically applies to employers with twenty or more employees, Massachusetts' Mini-COBRA applies to businesses with two to nineteen employees under similar circumstances. For list of COBRA and Mini-COBRA coverage circumstances, see the COBRA Fact Sheet link below.

COVID Specific Content The American Rescue Plan provides for a new 60-day enrollment period and temporary COBRA premium subsidies for up to 6 months during 2021. Subsidies will cover 100% of the monthly cost of COBRA while people are eligible. The law requires the former employer to pay the COBRA premium for subsidy-eligible individuals; the federal government will then reimburse the former employer for this cost. The COBRA premium subsidies can be paid for coverage months no earlier than April 1, 2021 and no later than September 30, 2021.  The MA Health Connector has announced a special enrollment period (SEP) for people who enroll in COBRA, but cannot afford to continue it after the temporary 100% premium assistance expires after Sept 30, 2021. People who qualify for this SEP will be able to sign up for private insurance through the Health Connector for the balance of 2021 and many may qualify for the more generous subsidies under ARPA in 2021 (and 2022). See the Health Connector announcement:  April 9, 2021 bulletin  More info from federal Dept of Labor about COBRA premium assistance: https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ebsa/laws-and-regulations/laws/cobra/premium-subsidy - More information - see Temporary COBRA Premium Subsidies for 2021 section of: How the American Rescue Plan Will Improve Affordability of Private Health Coverage, Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) (3/17/21) End of COVID-specific content