The federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) provides that the same health, dental, vision, Medical Reimbursement Account (MRA), and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) benefits be made available for employees, former employees, and dependents when they lose coverage after a qualifying event.

Employee Rights

COBRA allows benefited employees (and any covered dependents) to continue health, dental, vision, MRA, or EAP benefits at their own expense for up to 18 months of coverage (except for the MRA, which continues to the end of the current year*). 

Cal-COBRA extension of 18-months will be made available for medical and EAP** plans following the initial 18 months of Federal COBRA.

COBRA coverage begins the 1st of the month following one of the qualifying events below:

• Termination of employment (other than for gross misconduct).
• Loss of benefited status whether by reduction in work hours or change in job classification.

For more information about your benefits under COBRA, see the COBRA Notice of Rights and Obligations.

*If you have contributed your full pledge amount for the plan year(fully vested), then you do not need to elect COBRA to continue to incur expenses through March 15th and submit claims until June 15th the following plan year.  Your debit card will be deactivated on your termination date, but if fully vested, the grace period and run-out period apply. 

**EAP benefits are not available to members outside of CA under the 18-month Cal-COBRA extension.

Timing

Once the separation is finalized in the City's HR/Payroll system, a personalized COBRA packet from the P&A Group will be mailed to the home address on file. Employees have a maximum of within 60 days after the coverage ends or within 60 days after P&A provides you or your covered dependent(s) with notice of the right to elect COBRA Continuation Coverage, whichever is later. If you or your spouse/domestic partner and dependent children do not elect COBRA Continuation Coverage within this 60-day election period, you will lose your right to elect COBRA Continuation Coverage. 

Premiums/Cost

Employees who elect to continue coverage through COBRA are responsible for paying a premium equal to 102% of the entire premium cost.  Payment is made to P&A Group Administrative Services, Inc. monthly during the initial 18 months of federal COBRA then paid directly to the Medical and/or EAP carriers during Cal-COBRA*(if elected).

• 2024 COBRA Rate Sheet
• 2025 COBRA Rate Sheet

*Different Rates may apply to Cal-COBRA coverage

Contact INFORMATION

**Note:  If you were enrolled in the MRA, DCAP, or Commuter Benefits as an active employee, you can use your same login info as a COBRA participant and continue to manage applicable benefits.

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