All retiree medical plan elections become effective the first of the month following the retirement date.  Medical insurance for state employees terminates at the end of the payroll period in which they retire.

To cover the time period from the end of the payroll period in which active employee coverage ends until the first of the month that retiree coverage begins, retirees may purchase COBRA medical coverage at the full cost of the medical plan, prorated to include only the days between the employee plan coverage and the retiree plan coverage.

Under federal regulations, COBRA medical coverage can be elected retroactively up to 60 days following the last day of active employee coverage.  A retiree may retroactively elect COBRA coverage within that 60-day period if he/she has unexpected medical claims during the period between employee coverage and retiree coverage.