19 continuation coverage on behalf of their spouses, and parents may elect COBRA continuation coverage on behalf of their children. Generally under COBRA, an E mployee may elect to continue coverage by making timely self - payments for up to 18 months for COBRA qualifying events. However, under this Plan, except where otherwise noted below, coverage may be continued by making timely self - payments for up to 24 month s if the loss of coverage is for any termination of employment or loss of hours in employment covered by the Plan. Consequently, continuation of coverage with respect to termination of employment or loss of hours in employment will be collectively referre d to as continuation of coverage. In the case where the qualifying event is your death, you become entitled to Medicare benefits (under Part A, Part B, or both), you and your Spouse divorce or are legally separated, or your covered dependent is losing elig ibility under the Plan, the length of COBRA continuation coverage may be in effect up to a total of 36 calendar months f or each qualified beneficiary. In the case where the qualifying event is termination of your employment or reduction of your hours of e mployment to result in failure to meet eligibility under the Plan, or you become entitled to Medicare benefits less than 18 calendar months before the loss of coverage due to a qualifying event, the length of COBRA continuation coverage may be for a period of up to 36 calendar months for each qualified beneficiary, except for your coverage, starting after the date you became entitled to Medicare c overage (Part A or B, or both). For example, if you become entitled to Medicare eight months before the date on which your employment terminates or you experience a reduction in your hours of employment that result in loss of eligibility to participate in health coverage under the Plan, the period of COBRA continuation coverage for your Spouse and covered dependents may be elected for a period up to 36 calendar months beginning after the date of your Medicare entitlement, and is equal to 28 calendar months after the date of the qualifying event (36 calend ar months minus eight months). In the case when the qualifying event is the termination of your employment or reduction of your hours of employment to result in failure to meet the eligibility requirements under the Plan, the COBRA continuation coverage period generally will last up to a total of 24 calendar months ( see above). However, this 24 - calendar month period of COBRA continuation coverage may be extended in the fol lowing two instances: • Extension of 24 - calendar Month Period of Continuation Coverage Due to Disability If you, your Spouse or your Eligible Depende nt Child covered under the Plan is determined by the Social Security Administration to be disabled, and you notify the Fund Office in a timely fashion, you and your covered dependents may be entitled to receive up to an additional 11 calendar months of COB RA continuation coverage (for a total maximum of 35 months). The disability must be determined some time before the 60 th day of COBRA continuation coverage, and must last at least until the end of the 24 - calendar month of the original period of continuatio n coverage. • Extension of 24 - calendar month period of continuation coverage Due to a Second Qualifying Event If you, your Spouse or Eligible Dependent Child covered by the COBRA Continuation Coverage experiences another qualifying event (a “second qualifyi ng event”) while covered under an 24 - calendar month Continuation Coverage that includes the six - month continuation coverage period provided under the Plan plus the eighteen - month period under COBRA (or a 35 - calendar month period of coverage if disabled), y ou and your covered qualified beneficiaries may be eligible for additional months of COBRA Continuation Coverage for a maximum period of COBRA Continuation Coverage of up to 36 calendar months. Timely notice of the second qualifying event must be given to the Fund Office.