Who does COBRA extend coverage to, apart from employees who quit?

COBRA, which stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, is a federal law that provides individuals and their families the right to continue their group health insurance coverage under certain circumstances after a qualifying event. The correct answer highlights that COBRA extends coverage to any child adopted or born to a covered employee. This is significant because it ensures that families can maintain health insurance coverage for newly adopted children or newborns, which is crucial during potentially vulnerable transitions in health care needs.

The legislation aims to protect not only the employees but also their dependents, which include children, regardless of whether they are biological, adopted, or stepchildren, provided the employee had health coverage before the qualifying event. This inclusion is essential for safeguarding the well-being of children who might otherwise face gaps in health insurance during critical times.

Other options do not extend the coverage in the same way as the correct choice. Retired employees, though entitled to certain benefits, do not automatically receive COBRA coverage just by retiring. Spouses are included in COBRA, but the answer does not correctly represent the broader family coverage provided. As for widowed spouses, while they may also have eligibility under COBRA, they represent a specific situation rather than encompassing the overall extendable coverage to