COBRA Timeline Overview

1. Qualifying Event Occurs

This is the triggering event (e.g., end of employment or a reduction in hours) that makes you eligible for COBRA. 

2. Employer Notification: Within 30 Days

Your employer has 30 days from the date of the qualifying event to notify your health plan administrator. Your administrator provides all the demographic and plan information needed to Kept to make sure we’re ready to assist you after a qualifying event.

3. COBRA Election Notice: Within 14 Days

Once Kept is notified you’ve experienced a qualifying event, we have 14 days to send you a COBRA election notice outlining your rights and coverage options. This will come through the email your HR team has on file. If we're unable to reach you via email, we'll send the notice to the physical address we have on file.

Note: If you don’t receive anemail with your notice, you may have a de-activated work email tied to your account! Reach out to cobra@kept.io and we’ll make sure we get you a copy.

4. Election Period: 60 Days to Decide

From the date the notice is sent, you have 60 days to elect COBRA coverage. You’re not obligated to decide right away, but if you miss this window, you forfeit your right to COBRA. At Kept, we also want to make sure you know what options are available to you, so you can make the most informed choice for you and your family. We give you the option to see if there are other benefits you’re eligible for, as well as information about the Marketplace.

5. Premium Payment Deadline: 45 Days

Once you elect COBRA, you have 45 days to make your first premium payment which must cover the coverage back to the date you lost your coverage. When you elect COBRA through Kept, you can make this payment online through your dashboard. Remember that your enrollments won't be submitted to the carriers until payment for your coverage has cleared.

6. Carrier enrollment: 14 Days

Once you’ve elected COBRA and paid your first premium, we’ll get you enrolled with your selected insurance carriers. You can expect to be active in their system with new ID cards in about two weeks – some carriers are faster than others, so it could be sooner!

7. Ongoing Monthly Payments

After the initial payment, COBRA premiums are due monthly. We allow you to set up ongoing payments so you can be sure you won’t experience an unexpected issue. You’ll have a 30-day grace period for each subsequent payment.