Web and Mobile Accessibility Compliance:

DOJ/HHS Extends Deadlines

May 20, 2026

Applies to All Groups, Individual & Family Markets, Medicare, Medicaid*

The U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have both announced they are extending the compliance dates related to accessibility of digital websites and documents until 2027.

Background: The deadlines for compliance with federal digital accessibility mandates were this year. The mandates require companies and government entities that receive federal funding to ensure all websites, mobile applications and PDFs (documents) be accessible to people with disabilities using screen readers, keyboards only, or any form of assistive technology to interact with digital content.

Because of the cost and volume of materials to be remediated for accessibility, many companies and entities asked for additional time to meet the requirements. Both agencies extended the compliance deadlines by one year.

New dates:

• The deadline for state and local government entities with a total population of 50,000 or more is extended to April 26, 2027.
• The compliance date for public entities with a total population of less than 50,000, or any special district government, is extended to April 26, 2028.
• Federal funding recipients with 15 or more employees now have until May 11, 2027, to comply.
• Federal funding recipients with fewer than 15 employees now have until May 10, 2028, to comply.

Next steps: As a recipient of federal funds, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is responsible for ensuring our websites, custom group websites and PDFs are accessible for all our members, including group members. Due to the volume and cost of remediation, we will continue updating existing documents and implementing processes to support ongoing compliance.

We anticipate being in compliance in advance of the new deadlines.

_{*This article, or a similar version, is being shared with employer groups in the Employer News newsletter or news alert.}