Benefits Administration

COBRA administration, handled end to end

COBRA violations carry penalties of up to $110 per day, per qualified beneficiary. Between initial notices, election notices, and premium collection, running it in-house is a deadline minefield. Catapult takes the whole process, from qualifying event through coverage termination.

4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot 65+ years serving employers 50 states supported
The Catapult team at the Catapult office
Catapult has supported employers across the Carolinas since 1958
$110
Daily penalty per beneficiary
30
Days for an election notice
65+
Years serving employers
50
States supported
What is included

Every step of COBRA administration

From the qualifying event through to coverage termination, this is a full service rather than software you still have to operate.

Eligibility tracking and notifications

We track qualifying events and generate every required notice inside federal deadlines. No missed notifications, no reliance on someone remembering.

Premium collection and remittance

We invoice participants, collect securely, track payment status, and remit accurately and on time to your carriers, including reconciliation and delinquency notices.

Dedicated participant support

Former employees get direct, professional help with enrollment. We answer their questions, explain benefit options, and guide them through electing coverage.

Reporting and audit trail

Comprehensive reporting on all COBRA activity, with the documentation you need for compliance verification already assembled.

Regulatory monitoring

We track changes to COBRA rules and adjust our processes proactively, so your compliance does not drift as regulations move.

Systems integration

We integrate with most common HRIS and payroll systems to cut manual data entry, working with your IT team on secure data exchange.

Why outsource it

The stakes of getting COBRA wrong

Non-compliance ranges from significant fines to costly litigation. The deadlines are strict and the tracking is detailed, which makes COBRA a poor use of an HR team that has more valuable work in front of it. Every notification, every deadline, and every legal requirement gets met precisely, and the administrative load comes off your team entirely.

Your HR professionals go back to strategic work. Your former employees get a smooth, professional experience at an awkward moment. And you stop carrying the risk personally.

What you get

Three things change immediately

Penalty risk goes away

Adherence to every COBRA regulation, so the fines and legal exposure that come with a missed notice stop being your problem.

Your HR team gets time back

Eligibility determinations, ongoing communication, and premium management all move off your team’s plate, freeing them for work that actually moves the business.

Departing employees are treated well

A smooth, empathetic COBRA experience protects your reputation with people who still talk about what it was like to work for you.

What members say

Verified reviews from Catapult members

I am a huge fan of Catapult

As a matter of fact, membership is a condition of employment for me. As a one-person HR leader, knowing that I have their knowledge and tools at my fingertips makes my life so much easier and less worrisome than if I were going it alone. I use many of their services: COBRA, Background, HR Advice line, Compensation, Training and Project Management to name a few.

B Buffy FarnsworthVerified member · Trustpilot

Great resources, always an answer

Catapult has great resources to refer to when researching employment law, compliance, labor laws, etc. There is always someone to answer your questions!

B Beth LovelaceVerified member · Trustpilot

5 Stars!

Customer care is excellent! Resources, legal guidance, and background screening services are all valuable assets to our company!

C Christian KellerVerified member · Trustpilot
Questions

COBRA questions

What is COBRA and why does it matter for employers?
COBRA (the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) is a federal law giving employees and their dependents who lose health benefits the right to continue that group health coverage for a limited period. Employers must comply to avoid substantial penalties and to meet their obligations to departing staff.
Can COBRA administration be outsourced?
Yes, and most employers should. COBRA carries strict, unforgiving deadlines and penalties of up to $110 per day per qualified beneficiary. Outsourcing moves the tracking, notices, premium handling, and record-keeping to a specialist team so a missed date does not become a fine.
How do you ensure COBRA compliance?
Through rigorous eligibility tracking, timely and accurate notice delivery, meticulous premium collection and remittance, and complete record-keeping. We track regulatory changes and adjust our processes so your compliance does not depend on someone internally remembering a deadline.
What is the typical timeline for COBRA notices?
It depends on the event. General Rights Notices are generally required within 90 days of coverage commencing, and Election Notices within 30 days of a qualifying event. Our processes are built to meet or beat every mandated deadline.
How do you handle COBRA premium payments?
We manage the whole payment cycle: invoicing participants, collecting payments securely, tracking payment status, and remitting accurately and on time to your carriers. We also handle reconciliation and delinquency notices.
Can you integrate with our existing HR systems?
Yes. We integrate with most common HRIS and payroll systems to minimize manual data entry, and we work with your IT team to set up secure data exchange.
What support do former employees get?
Direct support from our team, including help with enrollment. We field their questions, explain their benefit options, and walk them through the election process, so your HR team is not fielding those calls.
Do you handle FSA and dependent considerations?
Yes. Our administration covers FSA considerations alongside standard medical continuation, and we manage the eligibility detail that comes with dependents and qualifying events.
Get started

Turn COBRA into a process you stop thinking about

Tell us your headcount and your carriers and we will quote a scope. No obligation.