August 11, 2010
Submitted Via Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov
Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
P.O. Box 8016
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850
Attention: OCHIIO-4150-IFC
RE:
Interim Final Rules for Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Coverage Relating
to Dependent Coverage of Adult Children to Age 26 under the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act.
To Whom It May Concern:
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce (the “Chamber”) is submitting these comments in response to
the Interim Final Rules for Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Coverage Relating to
Dependent Coverage of Children to Age 26 under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
(“IFRs” or “regulations”), which were published in the Federal Register on May 13, 2010.1 The
IFRs provide guidance pursuant to the statutory language of the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act (the “Affordable Care Act”) and the Health Care and Education
Reconciliation Act (the “Reconciliation Act”). As with other guidance under these Acts, the
IFRs were published jointly by the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Labor and the
Department of Health and Human Services (the “Departments”).2
The Chamber is the world's largest business federation, representing the interest of more than
three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region, with substantial
membership in all 50 states. These comments have been developed with the input of member
companies with an interest in improving the health care system.
1 Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Coverage relating to Dependent Coverage of Children to Age 26 Under
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 75 Fed. Reg. 34,538 (May 13, 2010) (to be codified at 26 C.F.R. pts.
54 & 602; 29 C.F.R. pt. 2590; 45 C.F.R. pts. 144, 146 &147.) [hereinafter Coverage of Children to Age 26].
2 Pursuant to the request in the IFRs, the Chamber is submitting these comments to one of the Departments - The
Department of Lab