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COBRA election dates, mapped

The COBRA election clock generally starts from the later of coverage loss or the election notice. Enter both when available and verify against the notice.

Event dossier · before the calculator

MedicalRecords.com Editorial · reviewed August 11, 2026

The facts to establish first

Potential trigger: COBRA eligibility and election timing come from the qualifying event, loss of coverage, plan status, and election notice.
First action: Read the election notice for its deadline, monthly premium, payment instructions, and retroactive-coverage terms.
Proof to keep: Keep the election notice, proof of delivery, coverage-end record, and any payment confirmation.

Verify timing with HealthCare.gov's Special Enrollment Period guidance and, when continuation coverage applies, the U.S. Department of Labor COBRA guide. Rules depend on the event and notice; the calculator below does not replace the official eligibility result.

Map the dates you can verify

Your coverage map · No phone required

1 Event
2 Route

Three stops to a dated route.

Start with what happened

The tool calculates the federal loss-of-coverage window and, when the notice date is known, the COBRA election deadline. It does not estimate subsidy dollars without the ZIP, ages, income rules, and live Marketplace data needed to do that responsibly.

What changedQuestion 1 of 3

What is changing?

Choose the event that best matches your coverage loss.

Layoff or job lossAsk HR or the plan administrator when job-based coverage ends and when the COBRA election notice will be sent.Leaving a job or going freelanceConfirm whether coverage ends on the last workday or at month-end; the employment end date and coverage end date may differ.Turning 26 or losing dependent statusAsk the parent's plan for the exact coverage end date and whether federal COBRA or another continuation option applies.Divorce or legal separationNotify the group plan using its stated procedure; for some COBRA events the plan is not required to act until it receives proper notice.Another loss of qualifying coverageConfirm that the loss is involuntary and qualifies for a Special Enrollment Period before relying on the dates below.