RIGHTS TO CONTINUE GROUP HEALTH PLAN COVERAGES

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (COBRA) requires most employers sponsoring group health plans to offer employees and their families the opportunity to extend health coverage (called COBRA coverage). The coverage must be offered at group rates in certain circumstances (called COBRA coverage). The coverage must be offered at group rates in certain circumstances (called “qualifying events”) when coverage would otherwise terminate. This notice is a summary of your rights and obligations under COBRA. Both you and your spouse should read this notice.

THE QUALIFYING EVENTS

As an employee of West Chester Area School District covered by any of our Health Benefit Plans you and your covered dependents have a right to continue coverage if:

You lose your health coverage because of a reduction in hours or you are terminated (for reasons other than gross misconduct on your part). As the spouse of an employee of West Chester Area School District covered by any of our health benefit plans, you have the right to continue coverage for yourself if you lose health coverage under one of our plans for any of the following reasons:

1) Your spouse dies;

2) Your spouse stops working (for reasons other than gross misconduct) or reduces hours of employment;

3) Divorce or legal separation from your spouse; or

4) Your spouse becomes entitled to Medicare benefits.

A covered dependent child of an employee of West Chester Area School District covered by any of our health benefit plans may continue coverage if coverage is lost under any of our plans for any of the following reasons:

1) The death of a parent;

2) The employee terminates employment (for reasons other than gross misconduct) or reduces hours of employment with West Chester Area School District;

3) The parents’ divorce or legally separate;

4) The employee/parent becomes entitled to Medicare; or

5) The child ceases to be an “eligible dependent child” under one of our health benefit plans.

To find out further information on COBRA please visit the website: http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm