When does COBRA coverage begin after an election?

• A. Coverage begins immediately regardless of payment
• B. Coverage begins after 6 months
• C. Coverage begins on the date the qualifying event occurred if the premium is paid; retroactive if paid late
• D. Coverage begins only if the plan confirms via email

Answer: (C)

COBRA coverage starts based on when you pay the premium, tied to the qualifying event. If you elect COBRA and pay the first premium on time, the coverage begins on the date the qualifying event occurred, preserving your benefits from that moment. If you pay late, the coverage is treated as starting retroactively to the date of the qualifying event (rather than starting later or requiring a separate date). This is why coverage isn’t immediate without payment, isn’t fixed at six months, and isn’t determined by an email confirmation from the plan. The key idea is that timely premium payment triggers the start date, while late payment can push the start back to the event date, retroactively.