MCCB POLICIES

Section: Personnel Policies

MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL

Title: COBRA

Initial Date of Adoption: November 18, 1992

Reference:

Revision Date : November 19, 1999

Code Number: 7.11

1 of 1

Page:

CONSOLIDATED OMNIBUS BUDGET RECONCILIATION ACT OF 1986 (COBRA)

Continuation coverage of health insurance is available to employees and their covered dependents at the established premium rate under the COBRA after certain qualifying events occur. The COBRA provisions cover only those individuals who have no other health insurance coverage and continuation coverage ceases at the expiration of the allowed 18 or 36 months, as the case may be. It can end earlier in case of any of the following:

1.

The State of Mississippi no longer provides group health coverage to any of its employees;

2.

The premium for continuation coverage is not paid on time;

3. A qualified beneficiary becomes covered under another group health plan, unless that plan contains any exclusions or limitations with respect to any pre-existing conditions a qualified beneficiary may have;

4.

A qualified beneficiary becomes entitled to Medicare;

5. Coverage is extended for up to 29 months due to a qualified beneficiary's disability and there has been a final determination that the qualified beneficiary is no longer disabled.

Eligibility for COBRA coverage includes the following provisions:

Employees who have terminated employment with the Board for reason other than gross misconduct on the employee's part or have a reduction in work hours are eligible to continue insurance coverage for 18 months;

Dependents of an employee who dies may retain coverage for 36 months;

The spouse of an employee covered by the State Mississippi Comprehensive Health Plan (CHP) has the right to choose continuation coverage under certain circumstances;

Spouses of employees, in the event of death or separation, may retain coverage for 36 months; and

Dependent children no longer eligible for inclusion in family coverage may receive up to 36 months of insurance coverage.