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UT Benefits Billing for COBRA Coverage

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UT Benefits Billing for COBRA Coverage  

COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) is a Federal law under which employees and their covered dependents have the opportunity for a temporary extension of medical, dental, and/or vision coverage at group rates in instances where coverage under the plan would otherwise end.  In certain cases, it may be possible to continue HCRA coverage. The employee or dependent is responsible for the entire premium for COBRA coverage plus a two percent administrative fee.

For more information regarding COBRA eligibility and enrollment, please contact the UT institution where you were last employed no later than 60 days from the date of your active employee insurance termination.

UT Benefits Billing (UTBB) is the administrator for UT COBRA coverage. All COBRA enrollment applications and monthly premium payments should be submitted to UTBB. See below for details about options for making premium payments and complete contact information for UTBB.

Initial Enrollment in COBRA Coverage  

Enrollment materials for COBRA are automatically generated when information is updated in the UT Benefits enrollment system indicating one of the following events has occurred:

  • A loss of coverage due to a reduction in hours or the end of employment (except if terminated for gross misconduct);
  • A dependent child aging out at the age of 26;*
  • Death of the subscriber; or
  • Divorce or legal separation from the subscriber.

*Certain children who are determined by the UT System Office of Employee Benefits (OEB) in conjunction with the UT Benefits Medical Director to be medically incapacitated and unable to provide their own support may be eligible to remain on their parent's coverage beyond the month in which they turn 26.

We automatically receive information from the institutions via the benefits enrollment system on a weekly basis. We prepare and send COBRA materials out via postal mail to individuals who are reported as being newly eligible to enroll in COBRA coverage through the UT Benefits program.

Please note that updates to the benefits enrollment system are often made after qualifying events have occurred. COBRA materials will be mailed as soon as possible following such an update and appropriate notification. 

At present, there is no option to complete enrollment in COBRA coverage online. Once your materials are received, you can complete the enrollment process via email or fax if preferred. These options are quicker than using postal mail to complete your enrollment.

Additionally, it is important to note that COBRA applications will NOT be processed until a complete initial payment is received via one of the methods described below. At that time, COBRA will be processed effective the first of the month following the loss of coverage due to the qualifying event. Coverage must be continuous. Depending on the timing around notification that a qualifying event has occurred and submission of the COBRA application, the initial COBRA premium payment may need to cover more than one month. 

Before your application is processed, save all documentation if you pay out-of-pocket for any expenses that would ordinarily be covered under the plan(s) you are enrolling in COBRA for (such as a prescription medication or medical services). Once your COBRA enrollment is in place, you may submit a claim to the appropriate insurance plan administrator for processing and reimbursement of any covered expenses that occurred after your regular coverage ended and during the COBRA processing period.

Payment Options Information

The monthly due date for COBRA insurance premium payments is the 1st of every month.

You will need your Benefits ID to make your payment. You can find your Benefits ID on your pre-printed application, UT Select Medical ID card, or your UT SELECT Prescription ID card; or feel free to call our office for assistance.

1. Debit via ACH – Click the button below to download a copy of the Authorization Agreement for Direct Payment/Debit via ACH from your designated bank account. Your account must be up to date and the completed Agreement must be received by the 10th of the month to be processed for the next month's draft.

Premium payments will be debited on the first of each month.  If the first falls on a weekend or holiday, the premium will be debited on the next business day.  Please complete and sign the Agreement and return it to UT COBRA. Continue to make payments until you receive an ACH Confirmation Letter notifying you of the date that your requested bank draft will start. Your account must be in good standing and any outstanding balances paid in full in order to process an Authorization Agreement for Direct Payment/Debit.

UT Benefits Billing for COBRA Direct Payment/Debit Authorization Agreement

Mail ACH form to: 
Office of Employee Benefits – UT Benefits Billing for COBRA
The University of Texas System
210 W 7th Street
Austin, TX 78701

 

2. Mail check or money order to UT Benefits Billing for COBRA Coverage; UT System COBRA, P. O. Box 733195, Dallas, TX 75373-3195.

  • Make Payable to UT System
  • Please include the benefits ID number for COBRA participant on the check

 

3. Major Credit card/Debit card payments can be initiated 24/7 at the Texas State Comptroller’s UT COBRA website:

www.texas.gov/UTCOBRA

Please be sure to enter the COBRA participant’s Benefits ID number on the site. (DO NOT USE the Benefits ID number of the person who is paying or who was the original subscriber before the qualifying event if this differs from the actual COBRA subscriber).

In the Event of Non-Payment

All COBRA premiums are due on the first of every month. If a payment does not arrive by the first of the month, your coverage will be suspended until payment is received and processed by UTBB.

If your payment is not received within the 30 day grace period, then you will receive an “Early Termination of Coverage due to Non-Payment” letter. Your suspended coverage will be terminated as of the last day of the month for which payment was received and cannot be reinstated.

Please contact UTBB for assistance as soon as possible if your payment will be late or if you have questions about the early termination of coverage. You can reach UTBB COBRA billing specialists by phone at (844) 579-8683 (toll-free) or via email at UTCOBRA@utsystem.edu.

 


Contact

PHONE
(844) 579-8683

HOURS
9 am - 12 pm, 1 pm - 4 pm

FAX
(512) 852-3204

EMAIL
utcobra@utsystem.edu

APPLICATIONS and CORRESPONDENCE
Office of Employee Benefits
UT Benefits Billing for COBRA Coverage  
210 W. 7th Street 
Austin, Texas 78701

MAILED-IN PAYMENTS
UT System COBRA
P.O. Box 733195
Dallas, Texas 75373-3195

ONLINE PAYMENTS www.texas.gov/UTCOBRA