Health coverage is one of the most important benefits that employers can provide, with advantages for employees, their families, employers, and society as a whole. Employers that sponsor group health plans enable their employees and their families to take care of their essential medical needs, ensuring that they can devote their energies to productive work. Most employer-sponsored group health plans must comply with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), which sets standards to protect employee benefits. One of the protections contained in ERISA is the right to COBRA continuation coverage, a temporary continuation of group health coverage that would otherwise be lost due to certain life events. This guide summarizes COBRA continuation coverage and explains the rules that apply to group health plans. It is intended to help employers that sponsor group health plans comply with this important federal law