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§ 1022. Summary plan description

(a) A summary plan description of any employee benefit plan shall be furnished to participants and beneficiaries as provided in section 1024(b) of this title. The summary plan description shall include the information described in subsection (b), shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the average plan participant, and shall be sufficiently accurate and comprehensive to reasonably apprise such participants and beneficiaries of their rights and obligations under the plan. A summary of any material modification in the terms of the plan and any change in the information required under subsection (b) shall be written in a manner calculated to be understood by the average plan participant and shall be furnished in accordance with section 1024(b)(1) of this title.

(b) The summary plan description shall contain the following information: The name and type of administration of the plan; in the case of a group health plan (as defined in section 1191b(a)(1) of this title), whether a health insurance issuer (as defined in section 1191b(b)(2) of this title) is responsible for the financing or administration (including payment of claims) of the plan and (if so) the name and address of such issuer; the name and address of the person designated as agent for the service of legal process, if such person is not the administrator; the name and address of the administrator; names, titles, and addresses of any trustee or trustees (if they are persons different from the administrator); a description of the relevant provisions of any applicable collective bargaining agreement; the plan's requirements respecting eligibility for participation and benefits; a description of the provisions providing for nonforfeitable pension benefits; circumstances which may result in disqualification, ineligibility, or denial or loss of benefits; the source of financing of the plan and the identity of any organization through which benefits are provided; the date of the end of the plan year and whether the records of the plan are kept on a calendar, policy, or fiscal year basis; the procedures to be followed in presenting claims for benefits under the plan including the office at the Department of Labor through which participants and beneficiaries may seek assistance or information regarding their rights under this chapter and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 with respect to health benefits that are offered through a group health plan (as defined in section 1191b(a)(1) of this title), the remedies available under the plan for the redress of claims which are denied in whole or in part (including procedures required under section 1133 of this title), and if the employer so elects for purposes of complying with section 1181(f)(3)(B)(i) of this title, the model notice applicable to the State in which the participants and beneficiaries reside.

Source Credit: (Pub. L. 93–406, title I, § 102, Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 841; Pub. L. 104–191, title I, § 101(c)(2), Aug. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 1951; Pub. L. 104–204, title VI, § 603(b)(3)(C), Sept. 26, 1996, 110 Stat. 2938; Pub. L. 105–34, title XV, § 1503(b), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1061; Pub. L. 111–3, title III, § 311(b)(1)(B), Feb. 4, 2009, 123 Stat. 67.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original "this Act", meaning , known as the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. Titles I, III, and IV of such Act are classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under and Tables.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, referred to in subsec. (b), is , , . For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1996 Amendment note set out under , The Public Health and Welfare, and Tables.

Amendments

2009—Subsec. (b). substituted ", the remedies" for "and the remedies" and inserted ", and if the employer so elects for purposes of complying with , the model notice applicable to the State in which the participants and beneficiaries reside" before the period at end.

1997—, substituted "Summary plan description" for "Plan description and summary plan description" in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). , struck out "(1)" after subsec. designation and struck out par. (2) which read as follows: "A plan description (containing the information required by subsection (b)) of any employee benefit plan shall be prepared on forms prescribed by the Secretary, and shall be filed with the Secretary as required by . Any material modification in the terms of the plan and any change in the information described in subsection (b) shall be filed in accordance with ."

Subsec. (b). , substituted "The summary plan description shall contain" for "The plan description and summary plan description shall contain".

1996—Subsec. (b). made technical amendment to references in original act which appear in text as references to .

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2009 Amendment

Amendment by effective , and applicable to child health assistance and medical assistance provided on or after that date, with certain exceptions, see , set out as an Effective Date note under , The Public Health and Welfare.

Effective Date of 1996 Amendments

Amendment by applicable with respect to group health plans for plan years beginning on or after , see set out as a note under .

Amendment by applicable with respect to group health plans for plan years beginning after , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as an Effective Date note under .

Regulations

Secretary authorized, effective , to promulgate regulations wherever provisions of this subchapter call for the promulgation of regulations, see .