COBRA
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Standard COBRA Timeframes
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Temporary Relief for COBRA Timeframes due to National Emergency*
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Grace Period to pay premiums
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Initial Premium – Due within 45 days of making initial COBRA election. Ongoing Monthly Premiums - Due on first of calendar month for that month. For example, premium for the month of July is due on July 1. Grace period allows payment to be made within 30 days, by July 31.
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Premium payment can be delayed until 60 days after the end of the National Emergency, up to a maximum of one year.
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Election Period to sign up for COBRA coverage
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60 days from the COBRA qualifying event date or the date of the election notification.
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Elections can be delayed until 60 days after the end of the National Emergency, up to a maximum of one year.
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Notice of Second Qualifying Event
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60 days to notify COBRA administrator of the second event in order to extend COBRA coverage from 18 to 36 months.
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Secondary qualifying event notifications can be delayed until 60 days after the end of the National Emergency, up to a maximum of one year.
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Disability Extension Request
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60 days to notify COBRA administrator after receiving disability determination from the SSA in order to extend COBRA coverage from 18 to 29 months.
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Disability determination extensions can be delayed until 60 days after the end of the National Emergency, up to a maximum of one year.
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Subsidized Premiums
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AEI’s eligible for subsidized premiums will have 60 days to elect coverage from the date of the election notice, or their first day of COBRA, whichever is later.
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The extended deadline relief provided in the Joint Notice and Notice 2021-01 does not apply, however, to the 60-day notice or election periods related to COBRA premium assistance under the ARP.
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All delays in both elections and payments will result in suspended coverage. *The end date of the National Emergency is unknown at this time.
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