If you leave state employment, the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) provides for continuation of health benefits coverage after your coverage with the state ends. However, certain events must occur for any persons covered under your contract to be eligible.
COBRA Continuation Coverage Rights
COBRA Premiums
2023 COBRA Health and Dental Monthly Premiums
Health Plans Comparison
2023 Iowa Choice - National Choice Benefit Comparison
Cobra Enrollment Form
COBRA Notification/Election form PDF
Health and Dental Applications
Health Insurance Applications
- Health Insurance Application: Iowa Choice or National Choice PDF
- Alliance Select PDF (SPOC-covered only)
- Wellmark Automatic Payment Authorization
Delta Insurance Applications
COBRA Qualifying Events |
Maximum Eligibility Period Beyond Termination |
|---|---|
| Employee Termination/ Resignation | The employee and covered dependents have 18 months of COBRA eligibility. If the employee meets the Social Security Administration’s definition of disabled at any time during the first 60 days of COBRA coverage, the employee and covered dependents have 29 months of COBRA eligibility. |
| Death or Divorce of Employee | The covered dependents have 36 months of COBRA eligibility. |
| Employee Reduces Work Hours; No Longer Eligible for Coverage | The employee and covered dependents have 18 months of COBRA eligibility. |
| Employee’s Dependent No Longer Eligible (Over age 26, full-time student over age 26 and marries or graduates) | The covered dependent has 36 months of COBRA eligibility. |
| Employee on Active Military Duty | The employee and covered dependents have 24 months of COBRA eligibility. |
The State’s share of the premium payment for health and dental benefits will cease at the end of the month in which the qualifying events occurs, and you will be responsible for full payment of the premium.
**If you have been on leave, in order to be eligible for continuing insurance, you may need to catch up missed insurance premiums. Please contact your HRA to find out your payoff amount.
COBRA coverage begins the first of the month following the qualifying event. The COBRA election period is 60 days after the later of:
- the date coverage would otherwise end, or
- the date of the COBRA Notification/Election Form.
If your employment ends, DAS will mail a COBRA Notification/ Election Form to you within two-three weeks following your last paycheck. The notification includes monthly benefit costs and election instructions. In the event of the death of an active employee, the family will receive notice of their COBRA rights. If an employee divorces, reduces hours, or has a dependent that is no longer eligible for coverage, the employee must notify his or her Personnel Assistant within 60 days following the event so that the personnel assistant can send the COBRA information.
NOTE: COBRA rights will not be extended to a Domestic Partner or his/her children, if the relationship terminates, if the employee terminates from state employment, or if the domestic partner’s children have an event that makes them ineligible for employee’s plan.
For More Information:
For questions regarding your particular plan please contact your Human Resources Associate.
Updated 5/3/2023