The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) was passed by Congress in 1986 to require most group health plans to provide temporary continuation of group health coverage to covered employees and their dependents when health coverage is lost in certain circumstances.
Who needs to provide COBRA coverage? If you are a private-sector employer group with at least 20 employees who work more than 50 percent of your typical business day and you offer a group health plan, then you are subject to COBRA requirements. Full- and part-time employees are counted in the number of employees. There is also mini-COBRA, which is offered to covered individuals in group health plans with between 2 – 19 members. This option, which became effective July 2009, varies by state.
COBRA Administration + UPMC COBRA Advantage = Compliance
There are many reasons to choose UPMC COBRA Advantage as your COBRA administrator. You will receive the same excellent customer service, easy administration, and efficient reporting that you have come to expect from UPMC Health Plan. We offer:
Customized Billing and Payment Collection
- Monthly billing and collection from the COBRA participant
- Flexible remittance options so the employer group can chose how the premium will be paid — to the carrier, employer, or both
- Regular monitoring of non-payment and subsequent late payment notice
Detailed Account Monitoring and Reporting
- Monitoring and tracking, including the 60-day election period, 45-day initial premium payment period, ongoing 30-day grace period, and coverage cessation
- User-friendly monthly activity and summary reports
- Archived documentation
Superior Customer Service
- Dedicated and experienced COBRA administrators
- 24/7 online access to account information
- Electronic data exchanges with carriers for seamless membership updates
- UPMC Health Plan earned the award for "Highest Member Satisfaction among Commercial Health Plans in Pennsylvania" in 2011, according to a study on member experience by J.D. Power and Associates, a global marketing information company that represents the voice of the customer.*
Member and Client-Focused Communication
- COBRA qualifying event package, including personalized election form and premium information
- Clients can communicate qualifying events through an employer portal, electronic file transfers, and fax transmission
- UPMC COBRA Advantage can help employers with open enrollment mailings and carrier updates
- The member will experience a smooth transition from active employee to COBRA coverage with UPMC Health Plan as a result of our seamless integration of products and services.
COBRA services are available to any UPMC Health Plan commercial group.
For more information, contact our Producer and Employer Group Services at 1-888-499-6922.
*UPMC Health Plan received the highest numerical score among commercial health plans in Pennsylvania in the proprietary J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Member Health Insurance Plan StudySM. Study based on 33,039 total member responses, measuring 11 plans in the Pennsylvania-Delaware Region (excludes Medicare and Medicaid). Proprietary study results are based on experiences and perceptions of members surveyed December 2010-January 2011. Your experiences may vary. Visit jdpower.com.