Which of the following constitutes a qualifying event for a dependent under COBRA?

• A. The employee changes to part-time status
• B. The dependent's status changes but remains a dependent under state rules
• C. The dependent obtains health coverage elsewhere but does not meet COBRA requirements
• D. Death of the employee; divorce or legal separation; loss of dependent status; or the employee becoming entitled to Medicare

Answer: (D)

Qualifying events for a dependent under COBRA are life changes that cause a loss or change in eligibility to stay on the employer’s health plan, triggering a right to continue coverage. The events that fit this for a dependent are death of the employee, divorce or legal separation, loss of dependent status under the plan, or the employee becoming entitled to Medicare. Each of these directly ends or alters the dependent’s eligibility under the plan, so the dependent can elect COBRA to keep coverage for a limited time.

Other scenarios don’t create that COBRA window. A change in the employee’s work status (like moving to part-time) doesn’t automatically confer COBRA rights for the dependent. If the dependent’s status changes but they remain a dependent under plan rules, there isn’t a loss of eligibility that would trigger COBRA. And if the dependent obtains other coverage, that typically means COBRA rights under the original plan aren’t triggered or the COBRA coverage would replaceable, rather than added.