Does COBRA require the plan to offer dependant-only insurance?

Question

If I read the law right, the decision to take COBRA is made on a per-beneficiary basis, so even if the employer does not offer dependant-only insurance, you can choose to insure only the dependant if you take COBRA.

Is that right, and if so, how do they even figure out how much you have to pay, since the company doesn't pay premiums that way?

Answer 1

COBRA does not cover dependent only, it doesn't matter if the employer offers dependant only insurance. The primary policy holder has the decision whether or not to take COBRA, which is what "per beneficiary" means.

If you have a dependant that is unable to get health insurance because of a pre-existing condition YOU must stay on COBRA along with that dependant but you can take the rest of the family off. The premium will be 102% of the cost for that coverage while you were working there. Most, but not all, plans offer employee and spouse, employee and child, and employee and family coverage. You would pay the premium depending upon whether the dependant is a spouse or child.