[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 195 (Wednesday, October 8, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60893-60894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24070]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service


Proposed Collection; Comment Request for Regulation Project

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of the Treasury, as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general 
public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment 
on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)). The IRS is soliciting comments concerning information 
collection requirements related to continuation coverage requirements 
application to group health plans.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before December 8, 
2014 to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Christie Preston, Internal 
Revenue Service, Room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, 
DC 20224.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of this regulation should be directed to Allan Hopkins, Internal 
Revenue Service, Room 6129, 1111 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, 
DC 20224, or through the internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Continuation Coverage Requirements Application to Group 
Health Plans.
    OMB Number: 1545-1581.
    Regulation Project Number: REG-209485-86 (TD8812).
    Abstract: The regulations require group health plans to provide 
notices to individuals who are entitled to elect COBRA (The 
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985) continuation 
coverage of their election

[[Page 60894]]

rights. Individuals who wish to obtain the benefits provided under the 
statute are required to provide plans notices in the cases of divorce 
from the covered employee, a dependent child's ceasing to be dependent 
under the terms of the plan, and disability. Most plans will require 
that elections of COBRA continuation coverage be made in writing. In 
cases where qualified beneficiaries are short by an insignificant 
amount in a payment made to the plan, the regulations require the plan 
to notify the qualified beneficiary if the plan does not wish to treat 
the tendered payment as full payment. If a health care provider 
contacts a plan to confirm coverage of a qualified beneficiary, the 
regulations require that the plan disclose the qualified beneficiary's 
complete rights to coverage.
    Current Actions: There is no change to this existing regulation.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Business or other for-profit organizations, 
individuals or households, and not-for-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,800,000.
    The estimated time per respondent varies from 30 seconds to 330 
hours, depending on individual circumstances, with an estimated average 
of 14 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 404,640.
    The following paragraph applies to all of the collections of 
information covered by this notice:
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless the collection of 
information displays a valid OMB control number.
    Books or records relating to a collection of information must be 
retained as long as their contents may become material in the 
administration of any internal revenue law. Generally, tax returns and 
tax return information are confidential, as required by 26 U.S.C. 6103.
    Request for Comments: Comments submitted in response to this notice 
will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval. All 
comments will become a matter of public record. Comments are invited 
on: (a) Whether the collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the collection of information; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and (e) 
estimates of capital or start-up costs and costs of operation, 
maintenance, and purchase of services to provide information.

    Approved: September 23, 2014.
Christie Preston,
IRS Reports Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-24070 Filed 10-7-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830-01-P