You and your dependents can temporarily continue your medical, dental, and life insurance coverage with the University under the federal Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) and state laws under certain circumstances. Under COBRA, you or your dependents would pay the full cost of coverage at the University's group rates plus an administrative fee.
Eligibility for COBRA Coverage
An individual may lose his or her group health coverage because of a “qualifying event.” The type of qualifying event determines who the qualified beneficiaries are for that event and the period of time that a plan must offer continuation coverage.
The following are qualifying events for a covered employee if they cause the covered employee to lose coverage:
- Termination of the employee’s employment for any reason other than gross misconduct
- Reduction in the number of hours of employment
The following are qualifying events for the spouse and dependent child of a covered employee if they cause the spouse or dependent child to lose coverage:
- Termination of the covered employee's employment for any reason other than gross misconduct
- Reduction in the hours worked by the covered employee
- Covered employee becomes entitled to Medicare
- Divorce from the covered employee
- Death of the covered employee
- Adult child reaches age 26
Due to one of the qualifying events above, coverage will end on the last day of the month in which you actively worked or were eligible for benefits.
How to Continue Coverage
Continuation coverage is effective following the date of loss of your group coverage. You can avoid a disruption in your coverage by choosing continuation coverage early.
- BRI will notify you of the option to continue coverage within 10 days after your employment ends or loss of eligibility.
- You have 60 days from the date you lose group coverage or the date you receive continuation of coverage information, whichever is later, to complete the form and return it to BRI. Do not send money with the request form. The administrator, BRI, will bill you.
- If coverage for your dependent ends because of divorce, legal separation, or any other change in a dependent status, you or your dependent must notify the Plan within 60 days.
- To qualify, you must have been covered as an eligible employee or dependent on the day before the qualifying event.
Note: If you have a spouse who is employed by the University of Minnesota and is eligible for benefits, it may be possible to be added as a dependent to his or her group benefits. Call 612-624-8647 or 800-756-2363, select option 1, for more information.
Duration of Coverage
You and your dependents may continue the group medical and dental benefits until the first of one of the below situations occur:
- 18 months following your loss of coverage
- 36 months following loss of coverage for a dependent due to loss of dependent child eligibility, divorce from employee, or the employee’s enrollment in Medicare [under Part A, Part B, or both]
- You or your dependent becomes entitled to Medicare benefits after choosing continuation coverage (only for people who become entitled to Medicare under Part A, Part B, or both)
- You become covered under another group health plan
- You don’t pay the rate for your coverage within the grace period after the due date
- The University discontinues coverage for all of its employees
Questions on Continuation
If you have already been offered continuation of coverage and have questions, call BRI at 866-996-5200 or email [email protected].
If you are an active employee and have questions on termination, call 612-624-8647 or 800-756-2363 and select option 1, or email [email protected].
Questions on Billing
If you have questions on billing, call the administrator, BRI (formerly 121 Benefits), at 866-996-5200 (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET).
COBRA Medical and Dental
Under COBRA, you would continue coverage with the same plan option you had on the date that your coverage ended. Continuation coverage is identical to the coverage provided under the plan to active employees and their eligible dependents.
You and your dependents who choose continuation coverage may change coverage options during any Open Enrollment that occurs while you are covered by continuation coverage.
If you are moving out of the plan’s service area, please call BRI at 866-996-5200 or email [email protected] for information about plan options.
COBRA Medical and Dental Rates
- Applicant-only cost applies if only one person, either you or a dependent, wishes to continue coverage.
- When two or more individuals wish to continue coverage, the cost that applies depends on the relationship of the individuals continuing coverage. For example:
- Employee and spouse: Applicant and Spouse with or without Children rates apply.
- Spouse and children: Applicant and Children rates apply.
- Two or more children: Applicant and Children rates apply. The oldest child is considered the applicant.
- Your cost is based on the plan and the geographic location you had in effect when you had a qualifying event.
- If you, your spouse, or dependent child receive an extension due to a disability, the cost for that coverage is 150 percent of the cost shown below. (Contact Employee Benefits for these rates.)
A non-refundable administrative fee of 2% is included in the monthly rates below.
2023 Monthly Medical Rates
Applicant Only
| Plan | Wellness Rate | Standard Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Medica Elect/Essential (Base plan for Twin Cities and Duluth) | $820.78 | $862.45 |
| Medica Choice Regional (Base plan for Greater Minnesota) | $820.78 | $862.45 |
| Medica ACO Plan (Crookston area, Duluth area and parts of NE Minnesota, Rochester area, Twin Cities metro area) | $776.28 | $817.95 |
| Medica Choice National | $1,018.07 | $1,059.74 |
| Medica HSA | $742.54 | $784.21 |
Applicant and Children
| Plan | Wellness Rate | Standard Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Medica Elect/Essential (Base plan for Twin Cities and Duluth) | $1,452.43 | $1,494.10 |
| Medica Choice Regional (Base plan for Greater Minnesota) | $1,452.53 | $1,494.10 |
| Medica ACO Plan (Crookston area, Duluth area and parts of NE Minnesota, Rochester area, Twin Cities metro area) | $1,372.26 | $1,413.93 |
| Medica Choice National | $1,792.28 | $1,833.95 |
| Medica HSA | $1,300.26 | $1,341.93 |
Applicant and Spouse, With or Without Children
| Plan | Wellness Rate | Standard Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Medica Elect/Essential (Base plan for Twin Cities and Duluth) | $2,173.87 | $2,236.37 |
| Medica Choice Regional (Base plan for Greater Minnesota) | $2,173.87 | $2,236.37 |
| Medica ACO Plan (Crookston area, Duluth area and parts of NE Minnesota, Rochester area, Twin Cities metro area) | $2,058.19 | $2,120.69 |
| Medica Choice National | $2,683.61 | $2,746.11 |
| Medica HSA | $2,007.31 | $2,069.81 |
2023 Monthly Dental Rates
Applicant Only
| Plan | Rate |
|---|---|
| Delta Dental PPO (Base plan for Twin Cities and Duluth) | $38.36 |
| Delta Dental Premier (Base plan for Greater Minnesota) | $47.03 |
| Delta Dental Premier | $47.03 |
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Applicant and Children
| Plan | Rate |
|---|---|
| Delta Dental PPO (Base plan for Twin Cities and Duluth) | $91.83 |
| Delta Dental Premier (Base plan for Greater Minnesota) | $112.09 |
| Delta Dental Premier | $112.09 |
Applicant and Spouse, With or Without Children
| Plan | Rate |
|---|---|
| Delta Dental PPO (Base plan for Twin Cities and Duluth) | $106.52 |
| Delta Dental Premier (Base plan for Greater Minnesota) | $130.63 |
| Delta Dental Premier | $130.63 |
COBRA Life Insurance
You have the option under state law to continue group life insurance benefits for yourself and your dependents including:
- Basic employee life
- Additional employee life
- Spouse life
- Child life
For both basic life and optional life insurance, you may choose to continue all or a portion of your current benefit. The maximum period to continue your coverage is 18 months or until covered by other group coverage, whichever occurs first. At that time, coverage may be converted to an individual policy or a personal term life portability policy without evidence of good health if you apply within 31 days. Portability means you can take your insurance with you. If you choose the portability policy, then spouse and child coverage is also portable.
A non-refundable administrative fee of 2% is included in the rates below.
Manage Your Beneficiary Designation
If continuing your Basic or Supplemental Life, you can update your Life Insurance beneficiary by completing the University of Minnesota Beneficiary Designation form.
Monthly Life Insurance Rates for COBRA
Employee Basic Life and Child Life
| Benefit | 2022 Monthly Rate |
|---|---|
| Employee Basic Life | Rate per $1,000 of face amount: $0.121 |
| Child Life (for each eligible child) | Rate per $10,000 unit of child life: $0.928 |
| Employee Additional Life and Spouse Life | Rates per $1,000 of face amount. Rates vary according to age and coverage level (see table below) |
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Employee Additional Life and Spouse Life by Age
| Age | Monthly Rate 2022 (per $1,000 of face amount) |
|---|---|
| Under 30 | $0.036 |
| 30-34 | $0.036 |
| 35-39 | $0.049 |
| 40-44 | $0.053 |
| 45-49 | $0.083 |
| 50-54 | $0.136 |
| 55-59 | $0.207 |
| 60-64 | $0.332 |
| 65-69 | $0.527 |
| 70-74 | $0.843 |
| 75-79 | $1.347 |
| 80-84 | $2.122 |
| 85+ | $2.122 |
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COBRA Health Care Flexible Spending Account
Your FSA participation stops after your last day of employment. This means you will not be able to receive reimbursement for expenses incurred after your last day of employment.
You can continue your FSA under COBRA if you lose eligibility for coverage due to:
- Termination of employment
- Layoff
- Changes in employment status
Contributions made through COBRA are done so on an after-tax basis. This allows you to continue to submit claims for expenses as long as you make contributions to the plan.