Survey of Plan Sponsors (Private Entities)

Subject Line: Your Participation in the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program

Dear Authorized Representative,

As the Authorized Representative for a Plan Sponsor that has received reimbursement under the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program (ERRP), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requests that you to complete a survey that is primarily related to determining how a plan sponsor has used or intends to use ERRP reimbursements. If necessary, another appropriate individual may complete the survey on your behalf.

The ERRP statute at 42 U.S.C. §18002(c)(4) limits the permissible uses of ERRP proceeds, as follows:

(4) USE OF PAYMENTS – Amounts paid to a participating employment-based plan under this subsection shall be used to lower costs for the plan. Such payments may be used to reduce premium costs for an entity described in subsection (a)(2)(B)(i) or to reduce premium contributions, copayments, deductibles, coinsurance, or other out of pocket costs for plan participants. Such payments shall not be used as general revenues for an entity described in subsection (a)(2)(B)(i).

That subparagraph also states:

The Secretary shall develop a mechanism to monitor the appropriate use of such payments by such entities.

As part of the Secretary’s efforts to monitor the appropriate use of such payments, the Secretary is asking ERRP plan sponsors that have received ERRP funds to respond to a survey that asks detailed questions about how they have used or intend to use ERRP funds, and the timing of when they have or will use such funds. This survey also asks questions about certain decisions the sponsor has or will make with regard to coverage.

The purpose of this survey is to understand better how plan sponsors participating in the ERRP are utilizing program funds. CMS may release the results publicly, but will not attribute any response to a particular sponsor. All results will be reported in aggregate. Sponsors should note, however, that the results of this survey are subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

We do not expect that all answers to the survey are or will prove to be 100% accurate. However, we expect sponsors to answer all questions as accurately and completely as possible.

A relatively few number of Plan Sponsors have received ERRP reimbursement for more than one plan (i.e., for more than one ERRP application). Authorized Representatives of such Plan Sponsors are asked to complete one survey for each such plan (i.e., for each such ERRP application). Please provide only one survey response per ERRP application.

Please access the survey at [insert link].. If you have any questions about the survey, or need additional information, please contact the ERRP Center [http://errp.gov/contact_us.shtml] at [email protected] or toll-free at 1-877-574-3777.  The ERRP Center is available Monday through Friday between 9:00AM-7:00PM, ET. We encourage you to regularly monitor the ERRP website at http://www.errp.gov for updated program information. 

CMS thanks you in advance for completing the survey.