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​​COBRA & Mini-COBRA Continuation Coverage

If you've been laid off, you may be offered COBRA or Mini-COBRA which allows you to continue the health insurance coverage provided by your former employer.

COBRA is for a business with at least 20 employees while Mini-COBRA is for a small business with between 2 and 19 employees

If you choose to continue your health insurance plan coverage through COBRA or Mini-COBRA you will be taking on the full cost of the premium meaning you will not only pay what you had contributed before but you will also be paying the portion of the premium your former employer paid on your behalf. 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Just because you may be entitled to elect COBRA or Mini-COBRA coverage, does not mean you must elect it. You may have other, more affordable options such as:

    1. Pennie® - Pennsylvania's official health insurance marketplace, has affordable health and dental coverage options, including financial assistance to lower your monthly payments and possibly out-of-pocket costs. You may choose coverage through Pennie instead of COBRA or Mini-COBRA coverage.* 
    2. Another group health plan for which you are eligible (such as a spouse's plan). 
    3. Medicare coverage if you are over the age of 64 or are an early retiree. 
       If you are eligible for Medicare, please be aware that federal COBRA laws allow you to enroll in COBRA, but if you do, you may be subject to a late enrollment penalty when you later sign up for Medicare Part B. To learn more, visit https://www.medicare.gov/medicare-and-you.

* Important Note: If you choose COBRA or Mini-COBRA and then decide you'd rather have coverage through Pennie, you must wait until either: Pennie's Open Enrollment Period, which runs annually from November 1 – January 15, or the cost of your Mini-COBRA coverage changes, or until your COBRA or Mini-COBRA coverage ends, which allows you to enroll using a Special Enrollment Period.

It is important to act promptly!

You only have 30 days to enroll in a health plan through Pennie (and possibly for another group health plan), even though you may have more time to select Mini-COBRA or COBRA coverage.