cobra question

Can a spouse who is totally disabled and has Medicare and his own health insurance through his retirement plan apply for cobra when there is a divorce.  I am a state employee still working and he used my state insurance as primary, before the divorce, and Medicare as second with his from retirement third.

[Amir Mostafaie]

Dear twostep383,

COBRA rights are individual rights and can be exercised by the spouse of the beneficiary (employee) or his/his dependent children. If your spouse was receiving benefits through your group plan, he can opt to exercise his rights & enroll in COBRA. In fact he can opt to keep the COBRA for 36 months versus the usual 18 months.

Sincerely,

Amir Mostafaie