COBRA & Under-65 Health Insurance Guidance
Reviewed by Prodest Insurance Group, a licensed insurance agency (NPN 19515569) · Updated 20 October 2026 against the West Virginia Code and federal sources.
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| Federal COBRA | West Virginia continuation | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it reaches | Employers with 20 or more employees | Insured group plans, where federal COBRA does not apply |
| Why you left | Any reason except gross misconduct | Involuntary layoff only |
| How long | 18 months, up to 36 for some events | Up to 18 months |
| What you pay | Up to 102 percent of the full premium | The same group rate |
| What is included | The same plan you had | The same coverage |
| Time to elect | 60 days | As set in your notice and the policy |
| Single coverage | Family coverage | |
|---|---|---|
| Average full annual premium in West Virginia | $8,878 | $26,094 |
| Estimated COBRA cost per month (102%) | $755 | $2,218 |
Estimate = average total employer premium in West Virginia × 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.
About $755 a month for single coverage and $2,218 a month for family coverage, based on West Virginia'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.
West Virginia 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. If you left voluntarily from a small employer, the Special Enrollment Period is your main route. Act on it straight away rather than waiting for a continuation offer.
Members who are involuntarily laid off. Leaving voluntarily does not qualify.
Up to 18 months.
The same group rate.
The statute does not set one, so follow the deadline in your notice and the policy.
Yes. Adults under 65 with household income up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level may qualify.
Prefer to talk? Call (888) 918-4516 · Monday to Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern
This website provides educational information about health insurance and is a solicitation for insurance. It is a non-government website operated by Prodest Insurance Group, a health insurance agency that presents health plans, which may include Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, private health insurance, short-term medical insurance, or supplemental insurance based on the consumer's selection. Qualified ACA plans must meet or exceed the essential benefit requirements of the Affordable Care Act; non-ACA plans are not required to provide all of the essential benefit requirements contained in the Affordable Care Act. Pre-existing condition provisions, benefit availability, limitations and exclusions vary by plan type and state. You should review all plan details and product brochures before purchase. To qualify for ACA health insurance coverage outside of the open enrollment period, you must meet special enrollment requirements.
*Eligibility for Affordable Care Act (ACA) Advance Premium Tax Credit (APTC) and cost-sharing reductions is based on annual federal income thresholds, household size, and plan availability within the applicable service area. Premium rates, plan availability, and subsidy amounts vary by state and marketplace. Final eligibility and premium obligations are determined by the Health Insurance Marketplace under Internal Revenue Code Section 36B and applicable federal regulations.
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