Under federal COBRA, a dependent child who loses eligibility under a group plan because of 'aging out' of dependent status may continue coverage for:
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Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why A is correct
COBRA continuation periods depend on the qualifying event that triggers the loss of coverage. Termination of employment or a reduction in hours generally allows 18 months of continuation, but the dependent-related events — death of the covered employee, divorce or legal separation, loss of dependent status through aging out, or the covered employee becoming entitled to Medicare — allow up to 36 months for the affected dependents. The aging-out event therefore carries the longer 36-month window, giving a young adult time to secure replacement coverage after leaving the parent's plan.
Why the other options are wrong
- B) Twelve months is not a COBRA continuation period for any standard qualifying event, so this number has no basis in the federal statute.
- C) Six months is not a COBRA continuation period under the federal law, so this option invents a duration the statute never uses.
- D) 18 months applies to employment termination or reduction in hours, not to the dependent aging-out event, so this answer uses the wrong qualifying event's duration.
Memory hook
Aging out buys 36 months of COBRA; leaving your job buys 18. Dependent events get the longer leash.