As you may recall, due to the COVID-19 National Emergency, the Department of Labor provided relief via extensions for filing and appealing claims, electing and paying for COBRA, and notifying administrators of disability notices and special enrollments. The extensions would last for 12 months or until 60 days after the end of the National Emergency, whichever is sooner.
Legislation has been signed that ended the COVID-19 National Emergency on April 10, 2023. Before this, it was announced that the National Emergency would end on May 11, 2023, with the Department of Labor and IRS issuing FAQs around the National Emergency ending on May 11.
The Department of Labor has unofficially indicated that the outbreak period will still run through July 10, 2023 (60 days after the May 11 date, the initial announced end of the National Emergency).
How Does This Impact My Groups?
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield will resume normal claim, appeal, COBRA and enrollment timeframes as of July 11, 2023.
Your groups need to submit terminations for impacted delinquent COBRA members by August 9, 2023. Standard retroactive guidelines will resume beyond that date.
Please share this information with your groups. Details will be included in the employer newsletter distributed to groups on May 31.
Reach out to your account manager with any questions or Visit Our COVID Site.
