COBRA rules when you regain medical coverage
If an employee covered by COBRA obtains new employer-sponsored group coverage that contains a pre-existing condition exclusion, the pre-existing condition exclusion period will be reduced by the amount of time the qualified beneficiary had "creditable" coverage (if any).
Creditable coverage means any of the following:
- Most types of health plans or insurance coverage (including employer-sponsored group plans).
- Medicare Part A or B.
- Medicaid.
- Health insurance under the federal government or the U.S. Armed Forces.
- A medical care program of the Indian Health Service or of a tribal organization.
- A state health benefits risk pool.
- A public health plan as defined in government regulations.
- A health benefit plan under section 5(e) of the Peace Corps Act.
The creditable coverage is applicable to the qualified beneficiary as of the enrollment date in the new employer-sponsored group plan, as long as there has been no interruption of coverage longer than 63 days.
For additional important information, we encourage you to read:
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