When an employee gets a severance package that allows salary continuation through payroll for three months after the last day of work, what is the termination date or the qualifying event date for COBRA purposes, the last day of work, or the last day of severance pay? For the duration of the severance payments, is the "employee" still considered an "employee?" The employer will pay 70% of benefit costs for duration of severance.

Is there a termination date specified in the severance agreement?

At our company, the continued salary is paid out in a lump sum. Coverage ends on the last day worked (termination date) and COBRA begins from that date. Again, this is spelled out in the severance agreement.