COBRA Rate Increase, is it a qualifying event?

[oriecat]

An employee of mine waived our group coverage in order to take her husbands family plan. He was laid off, and their coverage ended Jan 31st for that plan. So we talked about bringing them back onto our plan Feb 1st due to loss of other coverage, but they decided to stick with that plan through the COBRA coverage. Now 2 months later, they are significantly increasing their COBRA rates, so she is wondering if she can come onto our plan now. And I can't think today, so I'm not sure if that rate change would be a qualifying event.

Thanks for any thoughts.

[GMK]

FWIW, I don't see rate change for COBRA continuation coverage on the list of qualifying events for COBRA.

BUT if the question is whether she can come back into your plan (assuming she is still working for you), then that depends on your plan's enrollment eligibility requirements, not COBRA rules.

[oriecat]

yeah, I'm not thinking about COBRA rules at all, I am more thinking of Sec 125 status change rules, so maybe I should have put this in the Cafeteria plan forum...