What is a general eligibility requirement for COBRA coverage?

To qualify for COBRA coverage, a significant requirement is that an individual must have been enrolled in their employer's health plan while actively working. This enrollment is essential because COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) is specifically designed to allow employees who lose their job or experience a reduction in hours to continue their health insurance coverage. The ability to maintain this coverage is predicated on the fact that they were previously part of an employer-sponsored plan.

This means that if someone did not participate in their employer's health plan, they would not be eligible for COBRA continuation coverage, regardless of their employment status or other factors. The purpose of COBRA is to provide temporary health coverage to those who would otherwise lose it due to certain qualifying events related to their employment, emphasizing the need for prior enrollment in the company's health insurance plan.