On April 28, 2020, the Departments of Labor (DOL) and the Treasury (Departments) issued deadline relief to help employee benefit plans, plan participants and plan service providers impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

A final rule extends the timeframes for health plan participants to:

• Request special enrollment under HIPAA;
• Elect COBRA continuation coverage, pay COBRA premiums and notify the plan of a COBRA qualifying event; and
• File benefit claims and appeals and request external review of denied claims.

This Compliance Overview summarizes the participant deadline extensions affecting COBRA continuation coverage, special enrollment periods, claims for benefits, appeals of denied claims and external review of certain claims. It also includes the deadline extension pursuant to the DOL’s Disaster Relief Notice 2020-01, for notices and disclosures required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

COVID-19 Relief Extends Certain Employee Benefit Plan Deadlines