May a Qualified Beneficiary add a person as a dependent as a result of marriage or birth while covered under COBRA continuation coverage?
In general, if similarly situated non-COBRA beneficiaries are allowed to add such dependent, so too can COBRA participants. These dependents may not however be deemed Qualified Beneficiaries under COBRA in some circumstances. Q: Previously we were required to allow COBRA participants to select different types of coverage under our plan, e.g., medical or dental or vision, when we did not allow our active employees the same option is that what is meant by core and non-core coverage? A: Group health plans are no longer required to offer Qualified Beneficiaries under COBRA, the option to elect core coverage under a group health plan that otherwise provides both core and non-core coverage. For purposes of COBRA, Qualified Beneficiaries are entitled to elect the types of coverage specified in the COBRA section of the plan.
