Endowed Health and/or Dental Plan Reminder for Dependents Graduating from College
Do you have a dependent child who is graduating from college? Do you have
a dependent child who is over age 19, under age 25 and no longer a full time
student? Does your dependent have coverage under your Cornell endowed health
care and/or dental plan and do you want to continue health care and/or dental
coverage for him or her? If these questions fit your situation, you should contact
Benefit Services for advice.
Cornell health care and dental plans are required under federal regulations
to offer health care and dental coverage to your dependent, who reaches age
19 and is no longer a full time student. This special coverage is often called
"COBRA" coverage named after the law that originally mandated the
requirement for employer-sponsored health and dental plans. COBRA coverage is
used by most people to protect their dependents from the burden of unexpected
health and/or dental care costs as they seek employment or during a break in
studies. The cost of COBRA includes both the employee and employer shares plus
a 2% administration fee.
Endowed Health Care and/or Dental Plan Participants:
In order to protect your right to this coverage for your dependents, you must
notify Benefit Services within 60 days of the loss of full-time student status
(including documentation verifying the date of the loss of full-time student
status), and complete a COBRA application. You will also need to complete an
enrollment form to remove your dependent from your coverage. Be sure to call
Benefit Services at (607) 255-3936 and a Benefit Counselor can help answer your
questions and guide you through the application process.
Please contact Benefits Services at (607) 255-3936 or benefits@cornell.edu if you have questions.