To elect or inquire about COBRA coverage, contact the COBRA administrator. (See "Contacting the COBRA Administrator" for more information.)

Under the law, you must elect COBRA coverage within 60 days from the date you would lose your active coverage because of one of the events described in this Benefits Handbook or, if later, 60 days after you receive notice of your right to elect COBRA coverage. A qualified beneficiary who doesn't choose COBRA coverage within the time period described above loses the right to elect it. You and your covered dependents will be required to reimburse the IQVIA Health Care Plan for any claims mistakenly paid after the date coverage would normally have ended.

If you choose COBRA coverage, your coverage will be the same coverage you had immediately before the event and the same coverage that is being provided to similarly-situated beneficiaries. "Similarly situated" refers to a current employee or dependent who hasn't had a qualifying event. You'll have the same opportunity to change coverage as active employees have (e.g., at annual open enrollment). This also means that if the coverage for similarly-situated employees or covered dependents is modified, your coverage will be modified in the same way. Your COBRA rights are provided as required by law. If the law changes, your rights will change accordingly.

Each qualified beneficiary has the right to elect COBRA coverage. This means that a spouse or dependent child can elect COBRA coverage even if you choose not to and, during annual open enrollment, may elect a different option than the one you choose. However, you or your spouse may elect COBRA coverage on behalf of other qualified beneficiaries, and a parent or legal guardian may elect COBRA coverage on behalf of a minor child.

Under the law, you may be required to pay the full amount of the cost of covering an active employee (and eligible dependents, if applicable) plus a 2% administration fee, for a total of up to 102% of the cost of coverage. If your coverage is extended from 18 months to 29 months because of a disability, you may be required to pay up to 150% of the cost of covering yourself and any covered dependents beginning with the 19th month of coverage.

The cost of group health coverage periodically changes. If you elect COBRA coverage, the COBRA administrator will notify you of any changes in the cost. Premiums are established for a 12-month determination period and may increase during that period:

The initial payment for COBRA coverage is due 45 days from the date of your election. Thereafter, you must pay for coverage on a monthly basis within the 30-day grace period. COBRA coverage doesn't begin until payment is made. If you don't make payments on a timely basis, COBRA coverage will terminate as of the last day of the month for which you made a timely payment.