Medical Expense✓ Verified · outline & fact-checked · Sep 2026Difficulty 2/5
A dependent child who 'ages out' of a parent's group health plan because of reaching the plan's coverage limit may continue coverage under COBRA for up to:
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
COBRA permits a dependent who ages out of a group health plan, meaning the child is no longer an eligible dependent, to continue coverage under the group plan for up to 36 months. This is one of the dependent qualifying events under COBRA, which also include divorce and the death of the covered employee. The 36-month period is longer than the 18-month base period because it applies to the loss of dependent status rather than the employee's own termination.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) Eighteen months is the base COBRA period for termination of employment or reduction of hours, not for a dependent aging out.
- C) Twenty-nine months is the disability-extended period for a qualified beneficiary who becomes disabled under Social Security rules.
- D) Twelve months is not a COBRA continuation period for any qualifying event.
Memory hook
Aging out of the group = up to 36 months of COBRA for the dependent. The child's own ticket is the longest one.