Is my former employer not required by law to offer COBRA coverage to me? There were only 8 employees?

The federal Cobra law only applies to employers with 20 or more employees. Your state probably has a coverage continuation law similar to Cobra that applies to employers with less than 20 employees. You should check with your state's Department of Insurance.

Assuming it is an insured plan, NC does have coverage similar to COBRA for small employers. However, the employers obligation to notify you of these rights is limited and the time in which you must elect the NC mandated continuation coverage is not nearly as liberal as contained in COBRA. Under NC law, I believe that your state law right to continuation coverage should be explained in the individual certificate of coverage that your employer should have given you.

I agree with the prior post, contact the insurance department SOON.