Under the county health care plans, qualified beneficiaries who elect COBRA coverage must pay for it. Your plan options and their cost are explained in information you receive from FBMC when you qualify for COBRA.

If you elect COBRA coverage, you must make the initial premium payment within 45 days of your COBRA enrollment. If you don't make the initial premium payment within those 45 days, your coverage will be terminated. To expedite COBRA coverage, you may attach your initial payment to the COBRA election form and return them both to FBMC.

All other premiums are due on the first of the month. Coverage automatically ends if payment isn't made within 30 days. FBMC will provide you with more detailed payment information when it first contacts you.

Once you've elected COBRA coverage and paid the initial premium within the 45-day time frame, COBRA coverage is retroactive to the first day of the month following your loss of coverage. There's no lapse in coverage—COBRA benefits begin when county-paid benefits end, even if retroactive processing and payments are required. Your initial payment must include all applicable back premiums. Any covered out-of-pocket expenses incurred before you enrolled for COBRA coverage may be reimbursable once you've enrolled.