US Medical Term · insurance
COBRA Election Period
Período de Elección COBRA
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | COBRA Election Period |
| Spanish (Español) | Período de Elección COBRA |
| Chinese (中文) | COBRA选择期 |
| Korean (한국어) | COBRA 선택 기간 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Thời gian chọn COBRA |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | COBRA Election Period |
| Portuguese (Português) | Período de Eleição COBRA |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ช่วงเวลาเลือก COBRA |
| Japanese (日本語) | COBRA選択期間 |
What it means
The COBRA election period is the 60-day window after losing employer-sponsored coverage (or receiving the COBRA election notice) during which an eligible employee or dependent can choose to continue their group health coverage under COBRA. The election deadline is strictly enforced; missing it forfeits the right to COBRA. Coverage, once elected, is retroactive to the date of loss of coverage, meaning a person can wait until they have a medical expense before enrolling and still receive retroactive coverage — though they must pay all retroactive premiums.
Related terms
Related guide
→ US Guide: employer coverage and cobraSources
Last reviewed: September 2026