Under pressure from business groups and others, the Department of Labor (DOL) has delayed until 2016 implementation of revised standards for the health insurance Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC) required by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

When it released the proposed changes in late 2014, the DOL originally set implementation for the first open enrollment period occurring after Sept. 1, 2015, but the new date is for any health insurance policy whose coverage begins on or after Jan. 1, 2017.

In announcing the change, the DOL — which developed the new standards jointly with the Departments of Treasury and Health and Human Services — said it would have a new SBC template by early 2016.

Read the DOL’s FAQs on the issue.


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