Who must provide the election notice to qualified beneficiaries after a qualifying event?

• A. Plan administrator
• B. Employer
• C. Insurance carrier
• D. Beneficiary

Answer: (A)

In COBRA, the party responsible for administering the group health plan must send the COBRA election notice to all qualified beneficiaries after a qualifying event. This plan administrator is the entity that maintains the plan’s records and handles COBRA requirements, so they are the ones who provide the formal notice detailing who is eligible, how long the election period lasts, the cost of continued coverage, and how to elect or decline. The notice must be issued within the regulatory timeframe after the qualifying event, ensuring qualified beneficiaries know their rights and deadlines.

The employer may be the sponsor, and an insurance carrier may handle parts of the process, but the duty to issue the official election notice rests with the plan administrator. The beneficiary is the recipient of the notice, not the sender.