COBRA

COBRA

COBRA is administered by Chard Snyder/WEX

Announcement - Enrollment Platform Change

Chard Snyder is moving their enrollment/payment platform from UnifyHR to WEX. Migration of current COBRA participants will start mid-May and continue through June. 

If your eligibility for COBRA begins June 1, 2026 or earlier, you will log into UnifyHR until you receive your new login credentials for WEX. 

If your eligibility for COBRA begins July 1, 2026 or later, you will log into the new WEX platform. WEX login and contact information will be added soon. 

Please look for notices from Chard Snyder/WEX and read carefully to understand next steps. 

Eligibility

Under a federal law called the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), you and your eligible covered dependents may continue your group health benefits when your coverage is lost due to a qualified life event, including:

  • The death of a covered employee
  • The termination of an employee (not considered gross misconduct), or the reduction of hours of a covered employee's employment
  • The divorce of a covered employee from the employee's spouse
  • A covered employee becoming entitled to Medicare benefits under title XVIII of the Social Security Act
  • A dependent child losing eligibility

COBRA Premiums

Here is what you need to know and do

  • The covered employee or qualified beneficiary must notify UVA HR of an employee’s divorce or child’s loss of dependent status within 60 days of the event in order to be eligible to elect COBRA
  • Apply for yourself, your spouse, and/or your dependent children (if applicable) for coverage under COBRA following the qualified life event.
  • Make monthly payments to Chard Snyder/WEX (our COBRA administrator) to keep your coverage. Be aware that rates may change for a new calendar year.

Length of Coverage

You may continue coverage for a maximum of 18 months after a qualified life event. COBRA coverage for you and your dependents only extends from the first qualified life event (if you have more than one).

In some cases, maximum coverage may exceed 18 months:

  • Termination or reduction in hours while disabled (as determined by the Social Security Administration) - 29 months for you, your spouse, and your dependent children.
  • Divorce or annulled marriage - 36 months for your spouse and your dependent children who were covered under the plan.
  • Dependent child no longer qualifies as dependent - 36 months for your dependent child.
  • Death - 36 months for spouse and dependent children who were covered under the plan at the time of a covered employee's death.

Cost of Coverage and Enrollment

  • Review the letter of notification you receive (if any) from the COBRA Administrator regarding the amount you owe and when your payments are due. No additional notices will be sent.
  • Important for current employees: Calling Chard Snyder/WEX before terminating? Make sure to tell the representative at the beginning of your call. Otherwise, they will see you are not on their terminated employee list and will tell you that you are not eligible for COBRA.
  • UVA Health plan members pay 102% of the premium (total cost of plan coverage for a participant), in accordance with procedures permitted by applicable law. (Coverage is only provided if self-payments are made on time and in full.)
  • If you have a medical expense at a time when you have not made payments, no claims will be paid.
  • You must make all premium payments before being reimbursed for covered expenses.