Employee Benefit News for School, City and County Employers

COBRA COVID-19 Extension Rules

Written by Rick Labian | Jun 22, 2020 7:47:40 PM

1 minute read

A Joint Final Rule was recently issued by the Department of Labor, Internal Revenue Service, and the Treasury Department. Under the notice, it extends certain time frames when it comes to an employee’s continuation of coverage under COBRA after employment ends.

The COBRA extension rules only apply to ERISA covered plans. It doesn’t matter whether the plan is self-insured or fully insured as long as it is subject to Federal COBRA and ERISA. Note: public sector non-ERISA groups do not have to comply with the COBRA COVID-19 extension rules.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services who enforces COBRA provisions, has encouraged plan sponsors of governmental plan to provide similar extensions, but they are not obligated to do so.

For more details, download the Joint Final Rule.

This blog is intended to be a compilation of information and resources pulled from federal, state and local agencies. This is not intended to be legal advice. For up to the minute information and guidance on COVID-19, please follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and your local health organizations.