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NYC Health Benefits Program



COVID-19

 

On May 4, 2020 the Employee Benefits Security Administration ("EBSA") in the Department of Labor ("DOL") and the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") issued a Joint Notice providing new guidance on delays due to COVID-19 affecting 

all health and retirement plans, with implications for governmental plans.

The Joint Notice designates a period of time, called the "Outbreak Period," that begins on March 1, 2020 and ends 60 days after the announced date of the end of national emergency related to COVID-19 or such other date announced by EBSA and IRS. Thus, the end date of the period is currently unknown.
  • Changes In Family Status - Adding/Dropping Dependents. Extension of the 30-day period to request to add/drop dependents.
    Employees should report all changes in family status to their agency health benefits or payroll office or NYCAPS Central at (212) 487-0500 (Department of Education employees should contact HR Connect at (718) 935-4000) not later than 30 days after the end of the Outbreak Period.

    Changes include adding a dependent due to marriage, domestic partnership, birth or adoption of a child, and to drop dependents due to death, divorce, termination of domestic partnership, or a child reaching an ineligible age.
  • COBRA Notice of Qualifying Event. Extension of the 60-day period to notify the City of qualifying COBRA event.
    Under COBRA, the employee or family member has the responsibility of notifying the City agency payroll or personnel office and the applicable welfare fund of the death, divorce, domestic partnership termination, or change of address of an employee, or of a child’s losing dependent status within 60 days after the end of the Outbreak Period.

    When a qualifying event (such as an employee’s death, termination of employment, or reduction in hours) occurs, the employee and family will receive a COBRA information packet from the City describing continuation coverage options.
  • COBRA Election Notice Deadlines. Extension of the date for the City to provide a COBRA election notice.
    When a COBRA qualifying event (such as an employee’s death, termination of employment, or reduction in hours) occurs, the employee and family will receive a COBRA rights information packet from the City describing continuation coverage options within 14 days of the end of the Outbreak Period. 
  • COBRA Election Periods. Extension of the 60-day election period for COBRA continuation coverage.
    To elect COBRA continuation of health coverage, the eligible person must complete a “COBRA - Continuation of Coverage Application. Employees and/or eligible family members can obtain application forms from their agency payroll or personnel office.  Please contact the welfare fund if you wish to purchase its benefits.   

    Upon receiving notification of their COBRA rights, eligible persons electing COBRA continuation coverage must do so within 60 days after the end of the Outbreak Period.
  • COBRA Premium Payment Deadlines. Extension of the date for making COBRA premium payments.
    Eligible persons electing COBRA continuation coverage must pay the initial premium within 45 days of their election. Premium payments will be made on a monthly basis. Payments after the initial payment will have a 30-day grace period. The premiums for COBRA coverage during the Outbreak Period must be paid within 30 days after the end of the Outbreak Period.