Does COBRA Extend My Medicare Special Enrollment Period?
No. COBRA does not extend your Special Enrollment Period. Your 8-month SEP starts when your active employment or employer group coverage ends, not when COBRA ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
- I've been on COBRA for 12 months. Is it too late for a SEP?
- It depends on when your active employment ended. If employment ended more than 8 months ago, your SEP may have already closed.
- What if I didn't know about this rule?
- Unfortunately, not knowing about the rule doesn't extend the SEP. This is why it's important to understand Medicare timing when leaving a job.
- What do I do if I missed my SEP because of COBRA?
- You may need to wait for the General Enrollment Period (January 1 – March 31) and will likely face a Part B late enrollment penalty.