Which of the following is a qualifying event for COBRA rights?

• A. The death of the employee.
• B. The employee voluntarily resigns.
• C. The employer increases premiums for active employees.
• D. The employee changes to a different plan within the same employer.

Answer: (A)

A qualifying event is a change in a health plan situation that causes loss of coverage and triggers the option to elect COBRA continuation.

The death of the employee is a qualifying event because it ends the employee’s coverage under the group plan, leaving dependents without coverage and giving them the right to elect COBRA to continue coverage for a limited time.

The other options don’t fit as triggers in this context: a premium increase for active employees isn't a loss of coverage or a status change for a specific covered person; changing to a different plan within the same employer still leaves coverage under the employer’s overall group plan; and while voluntary resignation can end an employee’s coverage, the death scenario is a clearer, definitive qualifying event commonly recognized for triggering COBRA rights.