COBRA Benefits
What is COBRA?
If you lose access to your group benefit plans you may be wondering how you can get coverage for yourself and your family. One option may be COBRA, which by law allows you to stay on your employer’s group health insurance coverage if you experience a qualifying event. You will receive the same coverage you had as an active, full-time employee — although you will have to pay 100% of the policy, plus a small administration fee.
Length of COBRA Coverage
COBRA coverage can last for either 18 or 36 months, depending on the qualifying event.
- If the qualifying event is a reduction in your work hours or the end of your employment, your COBRA coverage will last up to 18 months.
- If the qualifying event is death, enrollment in Medicare Part A or B, divorce, legal separation or a dependent child aging off your group health plan, your COBRA coverage will last up to 36 months.
Manage Your Coverage Online
Log into your P&A MyBenefits account where you can:
- Make online payments
- View open invoices
- View active benefits
- Check payment status
- Cancel benefits
- Update demographic information
Learn how to use P&A's mobile app to manage your P&A account. Penny Panda shows you how in this tutorial. Please note: this app is available for FSA, HRA, Commuter, and COBRA participants.
Watch VideoCOBRA Payments
Make a Payment
After you elect COBRA coverage, you will receive an invoice for the monthly amount owed. Schedule your monthly payments with P&A’s mobile app, or log into your account to make a payment. You can also make a payment over the phone through P&A’s self-service IVR at (800) 688-2611 or mail a personal check to P&A Group.
Mailing Address: 6400 Main Street, Suite 210 Williamsville, NY 14221
Recurring Payments
To schedule recurring payments deducted from your preferred bank account, please log into your MyBenefits Account online or through our mobile app.
Payment Due Date
COBRA payments are due on the first day of each month of coverage. If your payment is not received by the first of the month, P&A will send you a late notice. You have a 30 day grace period where you can still pay your premium and your coverage won’t be cancelled. However, if your payment for the month is not received or postmarked within 30 days, you will be terminated for non-payment. Once this happens, your COBRA coverage will be cancelled and cannot be reinstated.
Your employer notifies P&A Group of your loss of coverage.
A Qualifying Event Notice or QE Notice, which outlines your COBRA options, is mailed by P&A to your home via first class mail.
Review the materials and, if elected, return with total payment to P&A Group within the time frame stated.
P&A contacts each insurance carrier to get your coverage(s) reinstated retroactively to the indicated effective date.
P&A issues a customized COBRA invoice to the COBRA continuant. Payment can be made online or by mailing a check to P&A Group.
Manage Your Coverage Online
Log into your P&A MyBenefits account where you can:
- Make online payments
- View open invoices
- View active benefits
- Check payment status
- Cancel benefits
- Update demographic information
Learn how to use P&A's mobile app to manage your P&A account. Penny Panda shows you how in this tutorial. Please note: this app is available for FSA, HRA, Commuter, and COBRA participants.
Watch VideoCOBRA Payments
Make a Payment
After you elect COBRA coverage, you will receive an invoice for the monthly amount owed. Schedule your monthly payments with P&A’s mobile app, or log into your account to make a payment. You can also make a payment over the phone through P&A’s self-service IVR at (800) 688-2611 or mail a personal check to P&A Group.
Mailing Address: 6400 Main Street, Suite 210 Williamsville, NY 14221
Recurring Payments
To schedule recurring payments deducted from your preferred bank account, please log into your MyBenefits Account online or through our mobile app.
Payment Due Date
COBRA payments are due on the first day of each month of coverage. If your payment is not received by the first of the month, P&A will send you a late notice. You have a 30 day grace period where you can still pay your premium and your coverage won’t be cancelled. However, if your payment for the month is not received or postmarked within 30 days, you will be terminated for non-payment. Once this happens, your COBRA coverage will be cancelled and cannot be reinstated.
Your employer notifies P&A Group of your loss of coverage.
A Qualifying Event Notice or QE Notice, which outlines your COBRA options, is mailed by P&A to your home via first class mail.
Review the materials and, if elected, return with total payment to P&A Group within the time frame stated.
P&A contacts each insurance carrier to get your coverage(s) reinstated retroactively to the indicated effective date.
P&A issues a customized COBRA invoice to the COBRA continuant. Payment can be made online or by mailing a check to P&A Group.
FAQs
You can enroll in coverage online at https://padmin.com/cobraenrollment. Please note that you will need the registration code from your COBRA notice to begin the election process.
You can also complete the COBRA election form provided in your COBRA notice and mail it to P&A for processing.
Mail: 6400 Main Street, Suite 210 Williamsville, NY 14221
Important Note: Payment for coverage will be need to be made prior to enrollment with the carriers.
No. You are required to stay in the health plan that you were in at the time of the qualifying event. The only time you can make a change is during your previous employer’s Open Enrollment period.
Your son/daughter experienced a qualifying event, which caused them to lose coverage. If they are need of coverage, they will need to complete the COBRA election form and any accompanying applications. All the paperwork must be completed by the dependent and submitted to P&A for processing.
You can cancel your COBRA coverage at any time by submitting a request to P&A. All requests must include your name, employer (or, previous employer), and the effective date you want your coverage cancelled. You can submit your cancellation request by logging into your MyBenefits account, fax or mail. Once you cancel your coverage, you cannot be reinstated.
When you have reached the maximum period of coverage (either 18 or 36 months), your COBRA coverage will end. You may be able to convert your COBRA coverage to individual coverage with your current insurance carrier or purchase a new policy through a public or private health insurance exchange. To find out more about any conversion rights you may have when your COBRA coverage ends, please contact your carrier directly to find out how to do this. Please note that state insurance rules may vary.