• Benefits Administration


     

    Benefit Continuation Coverage Information

     

    COBRA, CAL-COBRA, & AB528

     

     
    COBRA Administrator
                                 COBRA Administrator
     
     888-678-4881 Customer Service    
    M-F  8am to 8pm EST 
     
     

    The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA), is a Federal law that requires employers to offer you and your dependents the opportunity to temporarily continue your medical, dental, and vision coverage at your own expense after your District-sponsored coverage ends. Every employee has the right to choose the continuation of coverage if the employee loses his/her health coverage due to a reduction in hours, resignation, or termination of employment (for reasons other than gross misconduct on the part of the employee).

    To continue coverage under COBRA, you must pay a monthly premium. The actual premium amount is determined annually and will not exceed 102% of the premium paid by the District for employees and/or dependents in a comparable status.

     
    Permanent Employees
    If you are a permanent employee in a regular assignment and become unpaid for an entire month, you will be offered the option of continuing your coverage under COBRA.  Employees on unpaid leaves of absence under the Federal Family Leave Act (FMLA) may be able to retain District-sponsored coverage for up to 12 weeks.
     
    Substitute Employees
    Substitutes who lose benefits at the end of a school year because they did not work 100 days in the previous fiscal year or become unpaid for an entire month may be eligible to continue coverage under COBRA.
     

COBRA is automatically generated once an employee’s benefits are terminated or coverage is lost.  To elect COBRA in a timely manner, you or a family member must notify Benefits Administration at 213-241-4262 within 60 days in the event of any of the following.

  • Your divorce
  • Your child ceasing to qualify as a dependent under the District’s plan(s)
  • Your death

The District will notify the COBRA Administrator in the event of any of the following. Upon receipt of notification, the COBRA Administrator will mail you a COBRA election packet.

  • Your resignation or dismissal (except in cases of gross misconduct)
  • Your loss of benefits due to a reduction of your assigned hours (including taking an approved unpaid leave)

Failure to notify the District within 60 days will forfeit your right to elect COBRA.  In general, employees may continue coverage under COBRA for 18 months, while dependents may continue for 36 months.

 

Cal-COBRA is a California law that is similar to Federal COBRA. If your 18 months of Federal COBRA ends, you may be able to continue your health insurance under Cal-COBRA for an additional 18 months, for a total of 36 months.

If your COBRA lasted 36 months, you are ineligible for additional Cal-COBRA coverage. Coverage under Cal-COBRA is available for medical benefits only. If you are enrolled in Kaiser or Health Net, please contact the plans directly for information regarding Cal-COBRA benefits.

For information regarding Cal-COBRA for the Anthem Blue Cross Select HMO & Anthem Blue Cross EPO plans, contact WageWorks directly. Contact information is provided at the top of this page.

AB528 is a District program that may allow your surviving spouse to continue his/her coverage once COBRA eligibility ends. Employees who retire and are not eligible for life-time benefits are also eligible for AB528.

 

Your domestic partner and children of your domestic partner are not eligible for continuation of coverage through COBRA or AB528. (If you are registered with the State of California, then your domestic partner and his/her children may be eligible for Cal-COBRA). Your dependent children are not eligible for continuation of coverage through AB528.

You may change your health care elections during the District’s annual enrollment period held each November and if you move out of state/out of the service area for your particular plan or upon reaching the age of 65.

There is no reinstatement of coverage after cancellation of COBRA/AB528 coverage. You must adhere to the COBRA guidelines and timeframes for enrolling in your coverage. You have 60 days to notify the COBRA Administrator of your intent to enroll in the COBRA or AB528 coverage. If you miss this deadline, you will lose your right to enroll in benefits.

 

Please visit the "COBRA Rates" section of the Forms and Publications page.

Wageworks
888-678-4881

Mail your form to WageWorks, Inc.:
PO Box 223684
Dallas, TX 75222
(or Fax: 866-450-5634)

Mail payments to:
WageWorks, Inc.
P.O. Box 660212
Dallas, TX 75266-0212

California Department of Insurance (CDI)

800-927-4357

800-482-4833 (TTY)

 

Department of Labor, COBRA
866-444-3272 (also available in Spanish and Chinese)

877-889-5627 (TTY)

Major Risk Medical Insurance Program (MRMIP)
800-289-6574