COBRA Information

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) provides for continued coverage for a certain period of time at applicable monthly COBRA rates if you, your spouse or domestic partner, or your dependents lose group medical, dental, vision or Health FSA coverage because you:

  • Terminate employment (for reasons other than gross misconduct);

  • Your work hours are reduced below the eligible status for these benefits;

  • You die, divorce, or are legally separated; or

  • A child ceases to be an eligible dependent.

UC's third-party administrator, WEX, administers all aspects of the COBRA program.

General COBRA Information:

Once UCPath enters a separation date in the system, WEX automatically sends a COBRA packet to your home address on file. Before you request a COBRA packet, please check your mail. You can call WEX to request a COBRA packet at 844-561-1338 or UCPath at 855-982-7284.

Whenever a family member loses eligibility to participate in UC-sponsored plans, it is your responsibility to disenroll that family member. If you don't, you are liable for any excess UC costs and plan expenses the ineligible family member incurs. 

Family members become ineligible for UC-sponsored benefits through divorce, the end of a domestic partnership, death or when children become too old, generally at age 26. Here's what you need to do to disenroll a family member.

  • Review the eligibility rules for family members. See Resource box

  • Complete the process to disenroll your family member.

  • Consider continuing benefits through COBRA or other means.

If you are requesting a COBRA packet for a dependent, complete the Notice To UC of a COBRA Qualifying Event (UBEN 109) form. Follow the form instructions and check submission deadlines. You must submit written notification to UC within 60 days. Failure to provide notice of these events within the 60-day time limit will result in COBRA continuation coverage being forfeited. Submit the form to UCPath by Submitting an Inquiry.

UCPath sends COBRA account changes to WEX every Tuesday evening (U.S. Pacific Time). This includes changes that occur from Tuesday through Monday at 5:00 p.m. Changes that occur after Monday at 5:00 p.m. are sent in a later transmission.

  • Changes occurred Tuesday through Monday 5:00 p.m. – UCPath sends the changes next Tuesday evening. 

  • Changes occurred Monday after 5:00 p.m. – UCPath sends the changes the following week on Tuesday evening. 

For COBRA coverage and information, contact WEX at 844-561-1338 or log in to the WEX COBRA website. You can also go to the UCnet COBRA page for eligibility coverage and rates. 

Resource links: