COBRA Election Deadline: What Happens If You Miss the 60-Day Window

Direct answer: Federal COBRA rules generally give you 60 days from the later of your qualifying event (like job loss) or the date you receive the COBRA election notice to enroll, and missing that window typically means permanently losing the right to continue your employer group coverage.

Why the 60-day rule exists

COBRA is designed to bridge a coverage gap, not to be a fallback you can activate anytime. The law intentionally caps the decision window so employers and insurers can close out their group coverage obligations with certainty.

What "election" actually means

Electing COBRA doesn't require paying the first premium immediately. In most cases you have an additional 45 days after election to make your first payment, though it must typically cover the period retroactive to your coverage-loss date.

Alternatives if you miss it

Losing group coverage is itself a qualifying life event for an ACA marketplace plan, generally with its own 60-day SEP window, so a missed COBRA election doesn't always mean a full year without options — but the two windows can run on different clocks, which is why it helps to check both immediately.