President Biden recently signed legislation into law ending the COVID-19 National Emergency as of April 10, 2023. Prior to this action, the National Emergency was set to expire on May 11, 2023.

As a reminder, the National Emergency included provisions for a 12-month “outbreak period”, or extension, for filing and appealing reimbursement claims, electing and paying for COBRA, and notifying administrators of disability notices and special enrollments. These extensions to the standard timelines were put in place until 60 days after the end of the National Emergency.

The Department of Labor has unofficially indicated that the outbreak period will still run through July 10, 2023 (60 days after May 11, 2023, the date announced as the original end of the National Emergency). The July 10, 2023 date also aligns with FAQs issued jointly by the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services and the Treasury.

LBS will be resume following normal timeframes as of July 11, 2023. Any member who is in their 12-month outbreak period will be given the normal timeframe to elect and pay for COBRA starting July 11, 2023.