For dependent children, which statement describes a qualifying event?

• A. The employee experiences any of the events listed under the employees qualifying events.
• B. The child gets a part-time job.
• C. The employee goes on vacation.
• D. The plan increases premiums.

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that dependents’ COBRA rights hinge on events that cause the employee to lose coverage. If the employee experiences any qualifying event listed for employees, that same event becomes the trigger for the dependent child as well. So, when the employee’s situation changes in a way that would drop their coverage (like termination or a reduction in hours, death, divorce, Medicare entitlement, etc.), the dependent can elect COBRA continuation coverage.

The other options don’t trigger COBRA: a dependent child getting a part-time job doesn’t affect the employee’s coverage; the employee going on vacation doesn’t change coverage status; a plan increasing premiums is a cost change, not a loss of coverage, so it doesn’t create a qualifying event.