Which factor determines COBRA eligibility after a qualifying event for an employee, spouse, or dependent child?

• A. If the group health plan actually covered them the day before the qualifying event
• B. If the employee is currently employed
• C. If the individual is enrolled in Medicare
• D. If premiums are paid on time

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that COBRA eligibility depends on having been covered by the group health plan immediately before the qualifying event. If a person wasn’t enrolled in the plan the day before the event, they generally don’t have the right to elect COBRA, even though an event occurred that could otherwise trigger continuation coverage. The qualifying event sets up the possibility for continuation, but only for those who were in the plan right before it happened.

Other factors don’t determine eligibility: being currently employed doesn’t create or remove COBRA rights, and Medicare enrollment doesn’t decide eligibility for COBRA (though it may affect how benefits are coordinated). Paying premiums on time matters to maintain COBRA coverage after election, but it does not determine whether someone is eligible to elect COBRA in the first place.