What happens to COBRA if Medicare is active when someone applies for it?

When Medicare becomes active for an individual, the COBRA coverage is generally lost. This is because Medicare is considered primary health insurance, meaning it takes precedence over COBRA. When a person qualifies for Medicare, they are no longer eligible for COBRA continuation coverage, which is designed to help individuals maintain health insurance after leaving employment under certain circumstances.

If someone applies for COBRA while already eligible for Medicare, the logic is that Medicare provides comprehensive coverage, and therefore, the individual is not in need of the additional COBRA coverage. This is an important aspect of the interaction between Medicare and COBRA that ensures that the individual does not have overlapping benefits from both sources when Medicare is in effect. In summary, once an individual is eligible for Medicare, their COBRA benefits are terminated, reflecting a standard protocol in these situations.