Postdoc COBRA Extension Plan
Postdocs lose eligibility for Trust Fund benefits 30 days after their employment ends. You are able to extend your dental & vision plans for up to 18 months after that by paying the premiums yourself.
Overview of COBRA
"The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances such as voluntary or involuntary job loss, reduction in the hours worked, transition between jobs, death, divorce, and other life events. Qualified individuals may be required to pay the entire premium for coverage up to 102 percent of the cost to the plan." (http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/health-plans/cobra.htm)
2022-23 COBRA Rates
Altus Dental:
Single: $28.97/month
Single + 1: $59.82/month
Family $102.67/month
EyeMed Vision:
Single: $4.00/month
Single+ 1: $7.59/month
Family $11.15/month
Rates are effective 9/1/22. All rates above include a 2% administrative fee. The COBRA application is due within 60 days after your loss of coverage date.
COBRA Application
Please complete the application and send a request for a secure email to uawdental@external.umass.edu Once you receive the secure email, you can reply directly with your form attached.
COBRA Application
All COBRA participants are required to sign up for recurring, automatic bill payment offered as a free service through PayPal in order to make monthly premium payments. Premium payments are due on the first of each month of coverage and timely payments are a condition of maintaining coverage. Both the participant and the Trust Fund have the ability to stop recurring payments at any time by contacting PayPal. No other payment methods are available.
Info on your COBRA rights
Detailed information about your COBRA rights, including what continuation of coverage is, how long coverage can be continued or extended, who is eligible, costs, etc.
Click here for the US Dept of Labor's Employee Guide to Health Benefits Under COBRA
Click here for Important Information about Your COBRA Rights
Click here for the US Dept of Labor's FAQs on COBRA Continuation Health Coverage