The guide
Everything you need to know about the COBRA administration checklist
What Is the COBRA Administration Checklist?
COBRA lets employees and dependents continue group health coverage after qualifying events like termination or reduced hours. This checklist covers the notices employers and plan administrators must send, the strict timelines for each, election and payment tracking, and coverage duration rules. It helps benefits teams administer continuation coverage accurately and prove that required notices were delivered on time.
Why Use a COBRA Administration Checklist
COBRA is deadline-driven and notice-heavy, and missed or late notices expose employers to statutory penalties, excise taxes, and lawsuits, especially when a former employee incurs claims during a coverage gap. Because the rules apply to employers with 20 or more employees and involve several distinct notices, tracking is essential. This checklist ties each qualifying event to its required notice and timeframe so nothing is missed.
How to Use This COBRA Administration Checklist
Provide the initial general notice when coverage begins. When a qualifying event occurs, confirm the event date, then send the election notice within the required window. Track the qualified beneficiary's election period, premium payments, and grace periods, and monitor the maximum coverage duration. Send termination notices when coverage ends. Keep dated proof of every notice and tick each step for each beneficiary.
