Proposed Rules on Summary of Benefits and Coverage Provision UnderHealth Reform

The U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Treasury recently issued proposed regulations regarding the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordability Care Act that require: (1) group health plans and health insurance issuers to provide a summary of benefits and coverage ( ?Ç£SBC?Ç¥ ) to participants and beneficiaries, and (2) group health plans and health insurance issuers to make available to participants and beneficiaries a uniform glossary of terms commonly used in health insurance coverage. The proposed rules describe when the SBC and glossary must be provided, as well as the content, form and manner of disclosure of the SBC and glossary. The regulations are available here. A fact sheet on the regulations is available here. The proposed template for the SBC is available here.