Does COBRA cover dental and vision benefits?

• A. Yes, always
• B. Only if those benefits are part of the same group health plan may be continued
• C. No, never
• D. Only if the plan is a government plan

Answer: (B)

COBRA continuation coverage applies to the group health plan as a whole, not to each benefit category on its own. Whether dental and vision benefits can be continued under COBRA depends on whether those benefits are included as part of the same group health plan that is being continued. If your employer’s group plan combines medical, dental, and vision benefits under one plan, you can keep all of those benefits by electing COBRA. If dental or vision are offered separately as standalone policies outside the group plan, COBRA does not require those to be continued. Remember, COBRA applies to private-sector group health plans; government plans follow different rules.