Who is eligible for the 36-month extension in COBRA coverage?

• A. All beneficiaries
• B. Dependents
• C. Only the employee
• D. Only the employer

Answer: (B)

COBRA continuation is designed to let a covered employee and certain beneficiaries keep health coverage after a qualifying event. The standard window is up to 18 months for most people, but dependents can qualify for a longer extension—up to 36 months—when a qualifying event affects their eligibility. This longer period is intended to protect family members who would otherwise lose coverage, such as when the employee dies, the marriage ends or there’s a divorce, the employee becomes Medicare-eligible, or a dependent stops being a dependent (for example, aging out). In these situations, the dependent has the option to continue coverage for up to 36 months from the qualifying event. The longer extension isn’t automatic for the employee themselves, and it isn’t something the employer gains; it’s about the dependent’s continuation rights.