Continuation of Benefits Coverage (COBRA) - Kansas

Summary of differences between federal and state regulations

Kansas law provides for plans not covered by federal COBRA. Under Kansas law, a group policy that provides hospital, surgical or major medical expense insurance, or any combination of these, on an expense incurred basis, must provide that an employee or covered dependents, whose insurance under the group policy has been terminated for any reason, including discontinuance of the group policy in its entirety, and who has been continuously insured under the plan for at least three months immediately prior to termination, is entitled to have such coverage continued under the group plan for a period of 18 months. The insurer is to issue to the employee or covered dependents by the insurer, at the end of the 18-month period of continuation, a policy of health insurance.

This requirement does not apply to a group plan that provides benefits for specific diseases or for accidental injuries only or a group plan subject to the continuation and conversion obligations under federal COBRA to the extent that federal law provides the employee or dependents with equal or greater continuation or conversion rights.

State

Contact

Kansas Insurance Department

Regulations

Kansas Statutes (Chapter 40, Article 22, §2209)

Federal

Contact

Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA)

Regulations

26 CFR 54.4980B-1 et seq.