How does COBRA insurance work?COBRA applies to most private sector businesses with 20 or more employees. It requires an employer's group health insurance plan to continue after qualifying life events. These include:Termination or a reduction of a covered employee's hoursDivorce or legal separation from a covered employeeDeath of a covered employeeMedicare eligibility for a covered employeeLoss of a child's or dependent's health insurance coverage under the planQualified beneficiaries under COBRA include:An employeeSpouseFormer spousesDependent childrenThe amount of time COBRA benefits last depends on the qualifying life event you experience. In some cases, it may be for 36 months. If your hours were reduced or your job was terminated, you can receive COBRA benefits for 18 months.Find out if you are eligible for COBRACOBRA eligibility has three basic requirements that must be met for you to get a continuation of coverage:Your group health plan must be covered by COBRA.A qualifying event must occur.You must be a qualified beneficiary for that event.How to get COBRA coverageWhen a qualifying life event happens, you or your employer will notify the health plan. The plan will send an election notice that you will have 60 days to respond to. If you elect to take COBRA coverage, your employer may pay a portion of or the full amount of your insurance premium.Contact your employer’s health insurance plan administrator with questions about COBRA, including:If you currently have COBRA coverageWhen your COBRA coverage will beginHow long the coverage may last, Learn about COBRA insurance and how to get coverage COBRA, the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, lets qualified workers keep their group health insurance for a limited time after a change in eligibility., The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances such as voluntary or involuntary job loss, reduction in the hours worked, transition between jobs, death, divorce, and other .