Under 29 CFR 2590.701-6(c), a group health plan must provide an individual who is offered coverage under the plan a notice describing the plan's special enrollment rights at or before the time coverage is offered. The Departments believe that the special enrollment notice is necessary to ensure that employees understand their enrollment options and will be able to exercise their rights during any 30-day enrollment period following a special enrollment event. The final regulations provide detailed sample language describing special enrollment rights for use in the notice. The sample language is expected to reduce costs for group health plans since it eliminates the need for plans to develop their own language.
US Code:
29 USC 1181
Name of Law: Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
There have been no program changes to this ICR since the last submission in 2009. The Department has updated its estimate of numbers of plans (respondents) based on the most current information available, and its assumptions relating to costs (wage rates, postage, etc.). In addition, the DOL has reassessed how to claim its portion of the burden between the Departments of Labor and of the Treasury. Previously the Department had claimed half the burden costs associated with item 13, and the Department of the Treasury claimed the other half; in order not to have the DOL and Treasury counts not be duplicative the DOL has now claimed only half the number of responses.
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:
(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;
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.