​California COBRA Continuation Rights
California has enacted a law that can extend health care continuation coverage for all individuals to 36 months, rather than the 18 or 29 months that may be provided under COBRA for loss of coverage due to termination of employment or a reduction in hours worked. The law is effective for individuals who begin receiving continuation coverage after 2002. The premium charged for this additional coverage (after the maximum COBRA period has expired) will generally be 110% of the current premium rate. However, the rate for disabled individuals will be 150%.

In addition, if you are age 60 or over at the time of your termination of employment and you have worked for your employer for at least the past five years, then the normal continuation period for you and your spouse can be extended for an additional period of time.

The extension lasts until the earliest of (a) the date the individual attains age 65, (b) the date the employer ceases to offer any group health plan, (c) the date the individual becomes covered under another group health plan, regardless of whether the coverage is less valuable than the extended coverage, (d) the date the individual becomes entitled to Medicare, or (e) for a spouse, five years from the date the former employee’s employment ended. Of course, the extension is also contingent upon the timely submission of premium payments. Coverage of children is not allowed.

To qualify for this extension, you and your spouse must both be covered at the end of the normal 36-month continuation coverage period. However, there is no requirement that you take the extension for your spouse to continue coverage.

In general, the premium charge for this special extension period is 213% of the current premium rate.