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.