Consolidated Omnibus Budget Rec-onciliation Act of 1985 legal definition

A federal statute requiring employers who provide a group health insurance plan for their employees to continue providing coverage to an employee for 18 months following termination or firing, or to a spouse of an employee in the event of divorce, for a period of 36 months following the entry of the divorce decree, provided that the spouse was covered by the employee’s health insurance during the marriage. Obligation for payment of the health insurance premium is borne by the terminated employee or, in the event of divorce, by the party designated in the divorce papers, but in no event by the employer.  Abbreviated COBRA.