COBRA eligibility

[Guest PamM]

An 85 year old employee working full time with full benefits will be retiring soon. Will he be eligible for COBRA continuation?

[Mary C]

If he has health care benefits on his last day worked (the qualifying event date), yes he is eligible for COBRA continuation.

[Guest SaraR]

Just question on this. It was my understanding that if an employee is eligible for Medicare, which an 85 year old employee would be, they are not eligible for health coverage under COBRA. They could take COBRA for things such as Vision or Dental insurance, but not health. Can anyone verify?

[Mary C]

COBRA law changed in 1998 to allow anyone who had other existing coverage, including Medicare, at the time of the qualifying event, to be eligible for COBRA. Its only after the employee has elected COBRA continuation coverage that enrolling in (not just being eligible for) other coverage, including Medicare, makes them ineligible for COBRA.