COBRA in New Hampshire

New Hampshire's continuation law closely follows federal COBRA, and reaches further. It covers insured group plans of any size, including dental, and gives spouses aged 55 or older a right to continue until Medicare.

Reviewed by Prodest Insurance Group, a licensed insurance agency (NPN 19515569) · Updated 20 October 2026 against the New Hampshire Revised Statutes and federal sources.

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Continuation for Any Size Group

RSA 415:18, XVI requires carriers to offer continuation whenever someone covered under a group health plan loses coverage, for any reason except dismissal for gross misconduct. It applies to group medical, hospital, dental, and surgical coverage, and to group policies issued in other states that cover New Hampshire residents.

At least 45 days to elect

The carrier must send you a notice within 30 days of learning you lost coverage. The election period in that notice cannot be shorter than 45 days, and you elect in writing to both the carrier and the employer.

If you elect without paying, you have 30 days from the election to pay the unpaid premiums. Coverage runs from the day your group coverage ended, so there is no gap.

New Hampshire Continuation Compared With Federal COBRA

	Federal COBRA	New Hampshire continuation
Who it reaches	Employers with 20 or more employees	Insured group plans of any size, except groups of one
How long	18 months, up to 36 for some events	18 months; 29 with a disability; 36 for dependents after certain events
Spouses 55 and older	Up to 36 months	Until eligible for another employer plan or Medicare
Time to elect	60 days	At least 45 days from the notice
What you pay	Up to 102 percent of the full premium	Up to 102 percent
If the whole group plan ends	Coverage ends	39 weeks of continuation at the group rate

Continuation coverage must be identical to what similarly situated active members have.

Dependents, Disability, and Spouses 55 and Older

Dependents can continue for 36 months after the employee's death, a divorce or legal separation, or a child ceasing to be a dependent. If you are determined disabled by Social Security within the first 60 days after losing coverage, continuation runs for 29 months.

If a surviving, divorced, or legally separated spouse is 55 or older when coverage is lost, continuation lasts until the spouse becomes eligible for another employer-based group plan or for Medicare. In a divorce or separation, the employee must tell the employer within 30 days and provide the spouse's mailing address, and the spouse receives a separate notice.

If the Whole Group Plan Ends

RSA 415:18, XVII covers a different situation: the employer's entire group plan ending. Members can keep the benefits at the group rate for 39 weeks, or until they become eligible for another group plan.

If the plan ended because the employer stopped paying premiums, the carrier must give notice within 30 days, and you have 31 days from that notice to elect and pay. You are not responsible for premiums the employer failed to pay, and a fee of up to 2 percent may be added.

How Much Does COBRA Cost in New Hampshire?

Federal COBRA lets a plan charge up to 102 percent of the full premium: everything your employer was paying, everything you were paying, plus two percent. Based on New Hampshire's average employer premium in 2025, that works out to about $808 a month for single coverage and $2,394 a month for family coverage. That is about $41 a month more than the U.S. average of $767 for single coverage.

	Single coverage	Family coverage
Average full annual premium in New Hampshire	$9,502	$28,161
Estimated COBRA cost per month (102%)	$808	$2,394

Estimate = average total employer premium in New Hampshire × 1.02 ÷ 12, from the federal Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2025). These are averages. Your exact premium depends on your former employer's plan and is listed on your COBRA election notice. If you are on state continuation instead of federal COBRA, the premium rules described on this page apply.

Compare COBRA costs in every state →
Estimate your own premium with the COBRA cost calculator →
Nearby states: Maine · Vermont

Health Insurance After Job Loss in New Hampshire

New Hampshire expanded Medicaid, so adults under 65 with household income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level may qualify. Federal law passed in 2025 adds work and community engagement requirements for expansion adults from January 2027.

A spouse or parent's plan. Losing your own coverage usually opens a window to join a family member's employer plan, and that window can be as short as 30 days. Ask early.

Common Questions

How much is COBRA insurance in New Hampshire?

About $808 a month for single coverage and $2,394 a month for family coverage, based on New Hampshire's 2025 average employer premium plus the 2 percent administrative fee federal COBRA allows. Your actual premium depends on your former employer's plan and appears on your COBRA election notice.

What are my health insurance options after losing my job in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire uses the federal Health Insurance Marketplace at HealthCare.gov. Losing job-based coverage opens a 60-day Special Enrollment Period, and you can enrol up to 60 days before coverage ends so a new plan starts as the old one stops. New Hampshire expanded Medicaid, so adults under 65 with household income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level may qualify. Federal law passed in 2025 adds work and community engagement requirements for expansion adults from January 2027.

Does New Hampshire continuation cover small employers only?

No. It covers insured group plans of any size, except groups of one, including dental.

How long does it last?

18 months, 29 with a disability, and 36 for dependents after certain events.

What about spouses 55 and older?

They can continue until they become eligible for another employer plan or Medicare.

How long do I have to elect?

At least 45 days from the notice.

What if the whole group plan ends?

Members can keep the benefits for 39 weeks at the group rate.

Sources

Drawn from the New Hampshire Revised Statutes as published by the New Hampshire General Court, and federal sources. Your plan documents and the terms your carrier provides govern your specific situation.

New Hampshire Revised Statutes, RSA 415:18, paragraphs XVI and XVII, Continuation of Coverage and Termination of Coverage
U.S. Department of Labor, FAQs on COBRA Continuation Health Coverage for Workers
HealthCare.gov, Special Enrollment Period (glossary)
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Insurance Component, 2025

Strong protection, still worth comparing

A licensed agent can confirm which New Hampshire rule applies to you, check the election period in your notice, and price a Marketplace plan alongside continuation. No charge, no obligation.