Continuation Coverage Requirements Applicable to Group Health Plans - Final (REG-209485-86)

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Corrections2_REG-209485-86.pdf Supplementary Document	2008-06-09
Corrections_REG-209485-86.pdf Supplementary Document	2008-06-09
Final_REG-209485-86.pdf Supplementary Document	2008-06-09
REG-209485-86_Sup Stmnt.doc Supporting Statement A	2008-06-09

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
18811	Continuation Coverage Requirements Applicable to Group Health Plans - Final (REG-209485-86)	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1545-1581	ICR Reference No: 200806-1545-008
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 200506-1545-015
Agency/Subagency: TREAS/IRS	Agency Tracking No: CB-1581-008
Title: Continuation Coverage Requirements Applicable to Group Health Plans - Final (REG-209485-86)
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 10/31/2008
	Date Received in OIRA: 08/29/2008
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	10/31/2011	36 Months From Approved	10/31/2008
Responses	12,079,600	0	12,079,600
Time Burden (Hours)	404,640	0	404,640
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The statute and the regulations require group health plans to provide notices to individuals who are entitled to elect COBRA continuation coverage of their election rights. Individuals who wish to obtain the benefits provided under the statute are required to provide plans notices in the cases of divorce from the covered employee, a dependent child's ceasing to be a dependent under the terms of the plan, and disability. Most plans will require that elections of COBRA continuation coverage be made in writing. In cases where qualified beneficiaries are short by an insignificant amount in a payment made to the plan, the regulations require the plan to notify the qualified beneficiary if the plan does not wish to treat the tendered payment as full payment. If a health care provider contacts a plan to confirm coverage of a qualified beneficiary, the regulations require that the plan disclose the qualified beneficiary’s complete rights to coverage.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 26 USC 4980 Name of Law: Tax on reversion of qualified plan assets to employer
   US Code: 26 USC 6103 Name of Law: Confidentiality and disclosure of returns and return information
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	73 FR 16962	03/31/2008
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	73 FR 50667	08/27/2008
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Continuation Coverage Requirements Applicable to Group Health Plans - Final (REG-209485-86)

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	12,079,600	12,079,600	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	404,640	404,640	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement:

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 08/29/2008

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