The Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act (the Affordable Care Act) was enacted by President Obama
on March 23, 2010. Section 2712 of the PHS Act, as added by the
Affordable Care Act, and the Departments interim final regulation
(26 CFR 54.9815-2712, 29 CFR 2590.715-2712, 45 CFR 147.2712)
provides rules regarding rescissions of health coverage for group
health plans and health insurance issuers offering group or
individual health insurance coverage. Under the statute and these
interim final regulations, a group health plan, or a health
insurance issuer offering group or individual health insurance
coverage, generally must not rescind coverage except in the case of
fraud or an intentional misrepresentation of a material fact. This
standard applies to all rescissions, whether in the group or
individual insurance market, or self-insured coverage. These rules
also apply regardless of any contestability period of the plan or
issuer. PHS Act section 2712 adds a new advance notice requirement
when coverage is rescinded where still permissible. Specifically,
the second sentence in section 2712 provides that coverage may not
be cancelled unless prior notice is provided, and then only as
permitted under PHS Act sections 2702(c) and 2742(b). Under these
interim final regulations, even if prior notice is provided,
rescission is only permitted in cases of fraud or an intentional
misrepresentation of a material fact as permitted under the cited
provisions
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.