[UCRDBR] Expiration of the “Extension Rule” for COVID-19 Pandemic Relief

[Departmental Benefits Representatives]

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March 10, 2021

To:       Department Benefits Representatives (DBRs)
From:   Human Resources Benefits Office
Re:      Expiration of the “Extension Rule” for COVID-19 Pandemic Relief

As noted in the HRB memo issued May 29, 2020<https://hr.ucr.edu/sites/g/files/rcwecm656/files/2021-03/important-changes-to-uc-benefits-programs-for-pandemic-relief_0.pdf>, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Departments of Labor and Treasury issued a rule (“Extension of Certain Timeframes for Employee Benefit Plans, Participants and Beneficiaries Affected by the COVID-19 Outbreak,”) extending the time periods during which participants may take certain actions relating to their group health plan coverage. We refer to this rule as the “Extension Rule.”

The rule stated that the extension provisions would remain in effect until the end of the Outbreak Period (60 days after the end of the National Emergency), or up to one year from March 1, 2020, whichever occurred first. The declaration of the National Emergency has not yet been declared; therefore, the Extension Rule has expired.
UC employees may continue to make changes under the provisions of the Extension Rule until Friday, March 12, 2021. After that date, UCPath will no longer allow changes to be made under the Extension Rule. The “Extension Rule” does not apply to the recent changes allowed as noted in the communication entitled New Pandemic Relief for Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA) Participants<https://hr.ucr.edu/sites/g/files/rcwecm656/files/2021-03/announcement-new-pandemic-relief-flexible-spending-arrangement-fsa-participants.pdf> communication shared on March 8, 2021. The newly issued Pandemic Relief Options for the Health and Dependent Care FSA plans remain in effect.
For questions, please contact the UCPath Center at (855) 982-7284.


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