What is Cal-Cobra and how does it work?

Cal-COBRA is a California law that is like Federal COBRA. Cal-COBRA applies to employers and group health plans that cover from 2 to 19 employees. It lets you keep your plan for up to 36 months. Cal-COBRA is also for people who use up their Federal COBRA.
What does Cobra stand for?
The California Continuation Benefits Replacement Act of 1997 (Cal-COBRA) requires insurance carriers and HMOs to provide COBRA-like coverage for employees of smaller employers (two to 19 employees) not covered by COBRA. To be covered by Cal-COBRA, you must have employed two to 19 eligible employees on at least 50 percent…

What is a Cal-COBRA qualified beneficiary?

Cal-COBRA defines a "qualified beneficiary" as any individual who, on the day before the qualifying event, is an enrollee in a group benefit plan and experiences a qualifying event. Cal-COBRA does not apply to the following. Cal-COBRA treats registered domestic partners as qualified beneficiaries.
Does HIPAA apply to Cobra and Cal-Cobra?
Just like Cobra, Cal-Cobra requires that the underlying group health plan continues in force. If the company cancels the plan all together (not just a change to another carrier) or goes out of business, the Cobra and Cal-cobra coverage will go away as well. In this case, a person may be eligible for HIPAA coverage which is guaranteed issue.

Who is affected by Cal-Cobra?

Larger employers (those with 20 or more employees) are also affected by Cal-COBRA. Cal-COBRA defines a "qualified beneficiary" as any individual who, on the day before the qualifying event, is an enrollee in a group benefit plan and experiences a qualifying event. Cal-COBRA does not apply to the following.
Does the Department of managed health care administer cobra or Cal-Cobra?
The Department of Managed Health Care does not administer Federal COBRA or Cal-COBRA benefits. The federal government recently enacted the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021.