MSU Human Resources >> Benefits >> Graduate-assistants >> Health >> Graduate Assistant COBRA FAQs


Graduate assistant cobra Continuation faqs

You will receive a COBRA notice and enrollment form in the mail from WageWorks after your health insurance coverage has ended. You will need to complete and sign the COBRA enrollment form and return it to WageWorks within 60 days. Once WageWorks receives your COBRA enrollment and initial premium payment, they will send it to the insurance company, Aetna, who will process the enrollment.

You must return your completed and signed COBRA enrollment form to WageWorks within 60 days of the COBRA notice mailing date.

If you lose coverage on February 15, your COBRA coverage will begin on February 16 assuming you actively enroll and pay for coverage. If you lose coverage on August 15, your COBRA coverage will begin on August 16.

The monthly cost for COBRA continuation coverage for the 2024-25 year (08/16/2024-08/15/2025) is:

  • Student: $285.71
  • Student + 1 dependent: $685.71
  • Student + 2 or more dependents: $857.14

Note: Coverage for a partial month is pro-rated.

For coverage starting on August 16, 2024, active COBRA participants will be enrolled in the new health insurance plan with Aetna. They will be able to access a digital card on the Aetna member portal.  They should show their ID card when they go to the doctor or pharmacy.
Your monthly COBRA payment is due within 45 days after your initial election is made. You must make your first payment no later than 45 days after the date of your election. (This is the date the Election Notice is postmarked). You will then be billed on a monthly basis. You may pay by personal check.

For more information about COBRA please go to https://www.hr.msu.edu/benefits/cobra/index.html.

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