EBSA COBRA extensions

Hurricanes Helene and Milton Disaster Relief
Important Information for COBRA Member

On November 7, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced a temporary pause of certain deadlines for sending notifications, electing, and paying for COBRA continuation coverage for individuals affected by Hurricane Helene (including Tropical Storm Helene) and Hurricane Milton. 

The start of the temporary pause varies depending on the location of the individual and which disaster affected them, and continues through May 1, 2025. Upon the end of the relief period, timeframes resume with individuals having the remaining time from when the timeframe paused. 

Eligible Individuals

Individuals are eligible for the relief period if they meet the criteria for being “directly affected” by Hurricane Helene, Tropical Storm Helene, or Hurricane Milton. To be considered “directly affected,” individuals must meet one of the following conditions:

1. Resided, lived, or worked in one of the designated disaster areas at the time of the hurricane or tropical storm.
2. Had benefit coverage under a plan that was “directly affected” by the disasters. This typically means that the employer that sponsors your benefit is located in an affected area, even if you are not. 

The disaster areas include certain areas in Florida (9/23/2024* or 10/5/2024*), Georgia (9/24/2024*), North Carolina (9/25/2024*), South Carolina (9/25/2024*), Tennessee (9/26/2024*), and Virginia (9/25/2024*) that FEMA has designated as eligible for Individual Assistance.

*These dates represent when the temporary pause begins based on the related disaster. For a list of specific impacted counties and respective pause start dates, click here. More information on disaster declarations is available at www.fema.gov. 

If you delayed enrolling in or making premium payment(s) for your COBRA continuation coverage, you must enroll and/or pay all missed premium payments by the end of the applicable deadline or coverage will terminate back to the original effective date or month for which you made payment. If you do not want COBRA coverage or your COBRA payments are up-to-date, no action is required of you.

Impacted Deadlines

Action	Standard Grace Period	New Deadline
Election	60 days from the date of the Specific Rights Notice	May 1, 2025 + the remaining time you had available in your election period when the timeframe was paused
Initial Premium Payment	45 days from the date of election	May 1, 2025 + the remaining time you had available in your initial premium payment grace period when the timeframe was paused
Subsequent Monthly Premium Payment	30 days from the payment due date	May 1, 2025 + the remaining time you had available in your payment grace period when the timeframe was paused

Frequently Asked Questions

I have recurring payments set up or mail a payment each month. Do I need to take any action?

No. If your payments are up to date, no action is required of you.

I’m not sure if my payments are up to date. Where can I check?

Log into your online account at cobralogin.wexhealth.com.

Where can I find my original deadline? 

Refer to recent correspondence under the Communication Activity tab of your online account.

I didn’t elect, but now I’d like to. My original grace period has passed but I’m still within my extended grace period. How can I elect?

We can’t process overdue elections online. Mail your election paperwork and premiums to:
WEX Health
P.O. Box 2079
Omaha, NE 68103-2079

You can download a copy of your election paperwork under the Communication Activity tab of your online account.

My payments are overdue but I’m still within my extended grace period. How can I make a payment?

We can’t process overdue payments online. Mail your payment to:
WEX Health
P.O. Box 2079
Omaha, NE 68103-2079

Include your member ID, which is located under the Profile tab of your online account. Please allow 10-14 business days for your payment to be processed.

If I only had services in specific months, can I pay for coverage for just those months?

No. COBRA requires enrollment each month from the first date of coverage. Gaps in coverage aren’t allowed.

How long will it take to reactivate my coverage?

Once we receive and process your election and/or payment, it can take your insurance carrier up to 15 business days to reactivate your coverage. 

Ongoing Payments

Please keep in mind that the above extensions of time do not change how COBRA coverage operates. If you pay a monthly payment later than the first day of the coverage period to which it applies, your coverage under the plan will be suspended as of the first day of the month. However, if you timely pay your monthly payment (taking into account the extended timeframe outlined in this communication), your coverage will be retroactively reinstated going back to the first day of the applicable month. This means that any claim you submit for benefits while your coverage is suspended may be denied and may have to be resubmitted once your coverage is reinstated.

Questions on Your Account?

You can find information regarding your COBRA premium, grace period, and payment due dates in your online account at cobralogin.wexhealth.com. Please note that the above COBRA timeframe extensions are not reflected in the attached notices or your online account, but they apply to you if you meet the criteria noted in the Eligible Individuals section. 

If you have any questions regarding your account or this notice, you can contact our Participant Services team here, or by calling 866-451-3399 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Central time).

For more information on the temporary extension provided by the Department of Labor and IRS, see EBSA Disaster Relief Notice 2024-01 and the DOL/IRS Joint Notice.