What is COBRA?
COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) is a federal law under which employees and their covered dependents have the opportunity for a temporary extension of medical, dental and/or vision coverage at group rates in instances where coverage under the plan would otherwise end. In certain cases, it may be possible to continue UT Flex coverage. The employee or dependent is responsible for the entire premium for COBRA coverage plus a two percent administrative fee.
Employees have a right to choose COBRA benefits when coverage is lost due to:
- a reduction in work hours, or
- termination of employment (other than for gross misconduct).
Extended coverage is available only to individuals who are covered at the time of termination and may be continued only at the level of coverage that was in effect on the day of termination or a lower level of coverage.
Covered dependents also have a right, independent of the employee's right, to COBRA coverage. The covered dependent may elect COBRA even if the employee does not. A spouse or dependent child covered under an employee's medical plan has the right to elect COBRA continuation coverage if they lose coverage due to:
- the employee's death, the employee's termination (other than for gross misconduct), reduction in work hours, divorce, the employee's entitlement to Medicare; or
- if a covered individual ceases to meet the definition of a dependent.
The UT COBRA General Notice contains complete information about COBRA rights for you and your dependents.
For UT Flex account questions, please contact hrsp@utsystem.edu.
For COBRA billing questions, please utcobra@utsystem.edu.
