You and your family may temporarily continue health coverage under the Plan after coverage would otherwise end because of a “qualifying event.”  Under a federal law known as “COBRA,” continuation coverage must be offered to each person who is a “qualified beneficiary.”  A qualified beneficiary is someone who will lose coverage under the Plan because of a “qualifying event.”  Depending on the type of qualifying event, employees, spouses of employees and dependent children of employees may be qualified beneficiaries. Qualified beneficiaries who elect COBRA continuation coverage must pay premiums on a monthly basis.  Notice of the amount of the premium is included in the COBRA election notice sent after a qualifying event.

COBRA continuation coverage includes all current health benefits under the Trust for active Carpenters and Dependents (medical, prescription drug, vision care and dental). It does NOT include life insurance, accidental death and dismemberment benefits or weekly disability benefits.

You and your Dependents may each choose independently whether or not to continue coverage under COBRA.

A COBRA participant can continue coverage only under the options he was enrolled in as of the date his coverage would have otherwise ended. He can change his coverage options only during the Trust’s regular annual open enrollment period.  For example, someone enrolled in the Kaiser medical option and the Pacific Union Dental option as of the date his coverage would otherwise end can continue coverage only under those options until the next annual open enrollment period.  Exceptions are made only if someone is enrolled in an HMO or DMO and moves out of the service area.

For details regarding the COBRA continuation coverage, please see your Summary Plan description booklet or contact the Administrative or satellite office in your area.

For the new COBRA Premium Reduction Provisions, please click here.