A Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) is four-page (double-sided) communication required by the federal government. It must contain specific information, in a specific order and with a minimum size type, about a group health benefit’s coverage and limitations. Recently, the Department of Labor (DOL) issued proposed revisions to the template and related materials. The agency expects final templates and materials to apply to plan or policy years beginning on or after January 1, 2017. The proposal includes both a blank template and a sample completed template along 
with instructions for completion. The agency has also invited public comments on the proposed template, to be submitted on or before March 28, 2016. All information about current and proposed SBCs, including a proposed uniform glossary and more can be found on theDOL’s website.
For fully insured plans, the insurer is responsible for providing the SBC to the plan administrator (usually this is the employer). The plan administrator and the insurer are both responsible for providing the SBC to participants, although only one of them actually has to do this.
For self-funded plans, the plan administrator is responsible for providing the SBC to participants. Assistance may be available from the plan administrator’s TPA, advisor, etc., but the plan administrator is ultimately responsible. (The plan administrator is generally the employer, not the claims administrator.)
