Labor Department, Employee Benefits Security Administration
This proposed rule sets forth a new, additional safe harbor for group health plan administrators to use electronic media (e.g., email or web portal) to furnish documents and information to participants and beneficiaries of plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). This proposal, if finalized, would allow plan administrators who satisfy specified conditions to provide participants and beneficiaries with a notice that certain disclosures will be made available electronically on a website. Individuals who prefer to receive these disclosures on paper will be able to request paper copies and to opt out of electronic delivery entirely. The Department expects that the proposal, if finalized, would improve the effectiveness of the disclosures and significantly reduce the costs and burden to group health plans associated with furnishing many of the recurring disclosures.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Labor Employee Benefits Security Administration 29 CFR Parts 2520 and 2560 RIN 1210-AC35 ( printed page 46602) AGENCY: Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor. ACTION: Proposed rule. SUMMARY: This proposed rule sets forth a new, additional safe harbor for group health plan administrators to use electronic media ( e.g., email or web portal) to furnish documents and information to participants and beneficiaries of plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). This proposal, if finalized, would allow plan administrators who satisfy specified conditions to provide participants and beneficiaries with a notice that certain disclosures will be made available electronically on a website. Individuals who prefer to receive these disclosures on paper will be able to request paper copies and to opt out of electronic delivery entirely. The Department expects that the proposal, if finalized, would improve the effectiveness of the disclosures and significantly reduce the costs and burden to group health plans associated with furnishing many of the recurring disclosures. DATES: To be assured consideration, comments must be received at one of the addresses provided below by September 21, 2026. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments, identified by RIN 1210-AC35 to either of the following addresses: 1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on this regulation to http://www.regulations.gov . Follow the “Su…
Citation: 91 FR 46602