What is the maximum number of days a beneficiary has to make the payment for COBRA coverage?

The maximum number of days a beneficiary has to make the payment for COBRA coverage is 45 days. This period begins on the date of the qualifying event or the date of the notice of the right to COBRA coverage, whichever is later. This 45-day window allows beneficiaries to secure retroactive coverage and ensures that they can maintain necessary health insurance benefits after a qualifying event, such as job loss or reduction in work hours.

It is important for beneficiaries to understand this time frame, as failing to make the payment within this period could result in the loss of their COBRA coverage. This time frame is part of the federal regulations governing COBRA, which aim to balance the need for beneficiaries to have access to health care insurance while also establishing a clear deadline for payment.