COBRA

Skip to main content
Home

Sign in to My LACERA

  1. About LACERA

    About LACERA

    City of Los Angeles skyline
    Our mission is to produce, protect, and provide the promised benefits to our members.
    1. Who We Are

      1. News
      2. Careers
      3. Business Opportunities
      4. Contact Us
    2. Leadership

      1. Board of Retirement
      2. Board of Investments
      3. Board Meetings
      4. Executive Team
      5. Divisions
    3. Accountability

      1. Retirement Law
      2. Governing Documents
      3. Investments
      4. Annual Reports
      5. Public Records
  2. Active Members

    Active Members

    A busy crowd walking by buildings.
    Our defined benefit plans were created to provide you with financial security.
      1. General Plans

      2. Plans A/B/C
      3. Plan D
      4. Plan E
      5. Plan G
      6. Safety Plans

      7. Plans A/B
      8. Plan C
    1. Active Service

      1. Contributions
      2. Service Credit
      3. Compensation
      4. Reciprocity
      5. Terminating Service
      6. Felony Forfeiture
      7. Pre-Retirement Divorce
      8. Disability Retirement
    2. Retirement Planning

      1. Benefit Estimates
      2. Steps to Prepare
      3. Ready to Retire
      4. Workshops
      5. Retirement Options
      6. Beneficiaries
      7. Power of Attorney
  3. Retirees and Families

    Retirees and Families

    View of dock overlooking the water.
    Your monthly allowance is guaranteed, and benefits extend to families and survivors.
    1. Retirement Payments

      1. Cost of Living
      2. Direct Deposit
      3. Tax Requirements
      4. Returning to Work
      5. Divorce
      6. Admin Appeals
    2. Families and Survivors

      1. Benefits Process
      2. Eligible Beneficiaries
      3. Survivor Benefits
      4. Survivor Healthcare
      5. Taxability of Benefits
  4. Retiree Healthcare

    Retiree Healthcare

    The hallway of a hospital.
    We provide comprehensive healthcare plans and resources to keep you healthy in retirement.
    1. Program Basics

      1. Healthcare Eligibility
      2. Paying for Coverage
      3. Manage Your Enrollment
      4. Medicare
      5. COBRA
      6. Healthcare Resources
      7. Healthcare Legislation
    2. Healthcare Plans

      1. Anthem Blue Cross of CA
      2. CIGNA
      3. Kaiser Permanente
      4. SCAN
      5. United Healthcare
      6. Dental/Vision Plans

Program Basics

  1. Healthcare Eligibility
  2. Paying for Coverage
  3. Manage Your Enrollment
  4. Medicare
  5. COBRA
  6. Healthcare Resources
  7. Healthcare Legislation
Begin content

Under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), dependents of LACERA retired members who no longer meet the eligibility requirements for LACERA-administered healthcare coverage may apply for continued benefits for a maximum of 36 months. Dependents eligible for COBRA cannot be denied coverage based on their health status.

Dependents must have had continuous coverage under a LACERA-administered medical plan; individuals with previous lapses in coverage are ineligible.

Eligibility is also based on the dependent experiencing one of the following qualifying events:

  • Divorce or legal separation of a spouse or eligible domestic partner from a LACERA member
  • Death of a LACERA member leaving a spouse or eligible domestic partner and dependents who are not eligible to receive monthly retirement benefits
  • Dependent child reaches age 26

Coverage under COBRA becomes effective the day after the applicant becomes ineligible for the LACERA-administered group coverage, if:

  • Dependent applies for COBRA within 30 days of the date of the qualifying event
  • LACERA receives dependent’s initial quarterly payment by the due date

A three-month premium payment is required to initiate COBRA coverage. LACERA will mail an initial bill 30 days after receipt of the COBRA application. The bill will cover premiums retroactive to the date the regular LACERA-administered coverage terminates; it is payable approximately 15 days from the date it is received.

To continue coverage, the applicant is responsible for the full cost of the coverage at the current COBRA rate, which includes a 2 percent administrative fee. The COBRA rate is adjusted annually to reflect the actual cost of coverage.

Current COBRA rates are included in the Medical and Dental/Vision Premium Rates, which can be accessed on the RHC Forms and Publications page, or by contacting us.

Contact Retiree Healthcare

Operating Hours: M – F, 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Call

Toll-free
800-786-6464
Local
626-564-6132

Email

Secure/Document Upload
My LACERA
General
healthcare@lacera.com

Fax

General
626-564-6155
Urgent Cases Only
626-564-6799

Mail

LACERA

Attn: Retiree Healthcare
P.O. Box 7060
Pasadena, CA 91109-7060

Mondays and Fridays are our busiest call days; for faster service, call us Tuesday through Thursday.

Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association

Appointment Reservations
LACERA
Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association

Member Service Center

M – F, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT

Holiday Schedule

300 N. Lake Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101

Contact Us

Member Services Call Center

M – F, 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. PT

800-786-6464

Retiree Healthcare

800-786-6464

Business

M – F, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT

PO Box 7060
Pasadena, CA 91109-7060

Phone 626-564-6000

Fax 626-564-6155

Translate Language

English Dutch French German Italian Portuguese Russian Spanish
  • ©2023 LACERA, All Rights Reserved
  • Disclaimer & Privacy Statement