Congress passed the landmark health insurance Cobra laws health benefit provisions in 1986. Officially the Consolidated Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA,), the new Cobra laws amended the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Internal Revenue Code and the Public Health Service Act to provide continuation of group health coverage that otherwise might be terminated. The Cobra laws contain provisions giving certain former employees, retirees, spouses, former spouses and dependent children the right to temporary continuation of health insurance coverage at group rates. This coverage, however, is only available when health insurance coverage is lost due to certain specific events. Group health coverage for participants under the cobra laws is usually more expensive than health insurance coverage for active employees, since the employer pays part of the premium for active employees while Cobra participants pay the entire premium themselves. In order to properly understand and implement the health insurance and Cobra Laws, you need a trusted source. HR.BLR.com is the most complete source for practical Benefits information and plain-English compliance and policy available anywhere. Help is on the way As the laws in different states on Human Resources get more complex, keeping current can spell the difference between success and disaster. The HR.BLR.com editorial staff monitors a host of private and government sources to keep you up-to-date on important human resource developments. The HR Library has more helpful Cobra laws resources like these: What is Cobra? cobra laws continuation rights Who is entitled to Cobra benefits? Common questions and answers about the Cobra health insurance