Who has the responsibility for sending a qualifying event notice to the plan administrator when a qualifying event occurs?

• A. Either the employer or the employee (or qualified beneficiary) is responsible.
• B. Only the employee.
• C. Only the employer.
• D. The plan administrator.

Answer: (A)

Qualifying events are what trigger COBRA rights, and someone has to tell the plan administrator that one has occurred so the process can start. The responsibility to send that notice lies with the person who experiences the event (the employee or a qualified beneficiary) or with the employer that administers the plan. This arrangement ensures the plan knows to begin COBRA administration and to issue the rights notice to eligible beneficiaries. In practice, if an employee is laid off or a dependent loses eligibility, the employee or the employer’s benefits office typically informs the plan administrator. The plan administrator then handles notifying the qualified beneficiaries about COBRA rights. The key idea is that timely reporting to the plan administrator is necessary, and it can come from either side—the employee (or beneficiary) or the employer—so the continuation coverage process can start without unnecessary delays.