Divorce is a qualifying event under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA). Under this act, any person who would lose employer-based coverage because of divorce can choose to purchase continued coverage for up to 36 months. The act applies to employers with 20 or more employees, but the coverage is not automatic: you need to contact the employer within 60 days of the qualifying event and complete the necessary paperwork. Unfortunately, COBRA coverage can be expensive.