FEBRUARY
2005 QUESTION OF THE MONTH - The Human Resource Line
Q.
We
offer several medical plans to our employees. What plan(s)
must be offered under federal COBRA?
A. Qualified
beneficiaries must be offered the coverage identical to that
available to similarly situated active employees and beneficiaries
who are covered under the plan. This means the same coverage
that the qualified beneficiary had immediately before qualifying
for COBRA continuation coverage. A change in benefits under
the plan for active employees will also apply to qualified
beneficiaries. Qualified beneficiaries must also be allowed
to make the same choices given to active employees and beneficiaries
under the plan, such as during periods of open enrollment.
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