On May 1, 2012, the Internal Revenue Service, Employee Benefits Security Administration, and CMS published a request for information regarding the use of stop loss insurance by group health plans and their plan sponsors to protect against catastrophic or unpredictable insurance claims. The agencies are particularly interested in feedback on the prevalence and consequences of stop loss insurance at low attachment points (or claims levels that trigger stop loss coverage), and the potential for this practice to worsen risk pools and increase premiums in the fully-insured small group market. Comments will be accepted until July 2, 2012.