On December 30, 2014, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA), and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a proposed rule that would revise Affordable Care Act (ACA) summary of benefits and coverage (SBC) and uniform glossary requirements for group health plans and health insurance coverage. The changes, which would modify a February 14, 2012 rulemaking, are intended to help plans and individuals better understand their health coverage options and compare plans. For instance, the proposed rule would add another coverage example to the SBC to illustrate costs for consumers, streamline the SBC, and revise the uniform glossary that helps consumers understand insurance terms. If finalized, the new requirements would be implemented for plan years beginning on or after September 1, 2015. Comments on the proposed changes are due by March 2, 2015.  The Departments also issued revised draft SBC template, instructions, and supplemental materials.

Separately, the agencies published a proposed rule on December 23, 2014 that would amend the definition of excepted benefits to allow group health plan sponsors, in limited circumstances, to offer wraparound coverage to individuals who are purchasing individual health insurance in the private market, including through the ACA Health Insurance Marketplace. The rule proposes the following pilot programs for wraparound coverage: a pilot allowing wraparound benefits only for Multi-State Plans in the Marketplace, and a pilot allowing wraparound benefits for part-time workers or retirees who enroll in an individual market plan. There are several significant conditions and limitations to this type of coverage. This type of wraparound coverage could be offered as excepted benefits to coverage that is first offered no later than December 31, 2017 and that ends on the later of: (1) the date that is three years after the date wraparound coverage is first offered; or (2) the date on which the last collective bargaining agreement relating to the plan terminates after the date wraparound coverage is first offered.  Comments will be accepted until January 22, 2015.