The Departments of Labor (DOL) and the Treasury (Departments) recently issued deadline relief to help employee benefit plans, plan participants and plan service providers impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Extension of Participant Time Frames
The Departments issued a final rule to provide plan participants with additional time to comply with certain deadlines affecting COBRA continuation coverage, special enrollment periods, claims for benefits, appeals of denied claims and external review of certain claims. With regard to disability, retirement and other plans, the final rule provides additional time for participants and beneficiaries to make claims for benefits and appeal denied claims.
According to the Departments, without the extension, individuals might
miss key deadlines during the COVID-19 outbreak that could result in the loss or lapse of group health coverage or the denial of a valid claim for benefits.
Deadline Extension for ERISA Notices and Disclosures
The DOL issued Disaster Relief Notice 2020-01 to extend the time for plan officials to furnish benefit statements, annual funding notices, and other notices and disclosures required under ERISA if they make a good faith effort to provide the documents as soon as administratively practicable.
The DOL also issued a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to help plan participants and employers impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak understand their rights and responsibilities under ERISA.
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