On May 9, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a 60-day Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for anyone who has COBRA group health benefits continuation coverage.  With this announcement, COBRA enrollees have until July 1, 2014 to change to an Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliant plan.  In California, they have until July 15, 2014 to change to an ACA-compliant plan and this SEP is also available to Cal-COBRA enrollees.

To take advantage of this SEP, COBRA and Cal-COBRA enrollees must apply for an on-exchange plan on Covered California (the state-based exchange) or for an off-exchange ACA plan by July 15, 2014.

Under COBRA (the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act), people who lose their jobs can buy the coverage they had with their employer.  But they have to pay the full cost.  In many cases, and especially when they qualify for subsidies, people can get more affordable coverage through the health insurance marketplaces, also called the exchanges.  They may also find more affordable coverage options off the exchange.

When filling out either a paper or online off-exchange application, COBRA or Cal-COBRA enrollees should mark the box designated as the Involuntary Loss of Minimum Essential Coverage as their qualifying life event during the SEP.  And they should put in the date they are applying as the qualifying event date.  For off-exchange plans, the effective date will be the first of the month after the date the application is received.  Covered California determines the effective date rules for its on-exchange plans.