The Affordable Care Act (the Act) requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to provide group health plan participants and beneficiaries with:

· A summary of benefits coverage that describes the benefits and

coverage available under the plan; and

· A uniform glossary of terms.

These requirements are collectively referred to as the Act’s “Summary of Benefits and Coverage” or “SBC” rules. The particulars of final regulations issued February 14, 2012 implementing the SBC rules are explained in our advisory of March 2, 2012. In response to questions from stakeholders, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury (collectively, the Departments) recently issued a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding implementation of the SBC rules. The FAQs are available at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/pd /faq-aca8.pdf. This advisory summarizes the FAQs.