How does Medicare eligibility affect COBRA rights for a spouse or dependent?

• A. Medicare eliminates COBRA coverage.
• B. COBRA coverage ends when Medicare eligibility occurs.
• C. Medicare becomes the primary payer for all services.
• D. Medicare eligibility triggers a COBRA qualifying event for the affected beneficiary; COBRA coverage can continue for the remainder of the continuation period, and Medicare generally becomes the primary payer.

Answer: (D)

When a COBRA beneficiary becomes eligible for Medicare, that event is treated as a COBRA qualifying event. This means the person can continue COBRA coverage for the remainder of the COBRA continuation period, as long as premiums are paid. At the same time, Medicare generally becomes the primary payer for covered services, coordinating with any remaining COBRA coverage.

So the correct concept is that Medicare eligibility triggers a COBRA qualifying event, allowing continuation of COBRA for the rest of the period, and Medicare typically takes the lead as the payer from that point forward. The other options misstate the relationship: COBRA isn’t automatically eliminated or ended when Medicare starts, and Medicare isn’t universally the primary payer for every single service in every circumstance.