§ 9831. General exceptions

(a) Exception for certain plans The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to—

(1) any governmental plan, and

(2) any group health plan for any plan year if, on the first day of such plan year, such plan has less than 2 participants who are current employees.

(b) Exception for certain benefits

The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to any group health plan in relation to its provision of excepted benefits described in section 9832(c)(1).

(c) Exception for certain benefits if certain conditions met

(1) Limited, excepted benefits The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to any group health plan in relation to its provision of excepted benefits described in section 9832(c)(2) if the benefits—

(A) are provided under a separate policy, certificate, or contract of insurance; or

(B) are otherwise not an integral part of the plan.

(2) Noncoordinated, excepted benefits The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to any group health plan in relation to its provision of excepted benefits described in section 9832(c)(3) if all of the following conditions are met:

(A) The benefits are provided under a separate policy, certificate, or contract of insurance.

(B) There is no coordination between the provision of such benefits and any exclusion of benefits under any group health plan maintained by the same plan sponsor.

(C) Such benefits are paid with respect to an event without regard to whether benefits are provided with respect to such an event under any group health plan maintained by the same plan sponsor.

(3) Supplemental excepted benefits

The requirements of this chapter shall not apply to any group health plan in relation to its provision of excepted benefits described in section 9832(c)(4) if the benefits are provided under a separate policy, certificate, or contract of insurance.

(Added Pub. L. 104–191, title IV, § 401(a), Aug. 21, 1996, 110 Stat. 2080, § 9804; renumbered § 9831 and amended Pub. L. 105–34, title XV, § 1531(a)(2), (b)(1)(B)–(E), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1081, 1084, 1085.)

Amendments

Amendments

1997—Pub. L. 105–34 renumbered section 9804 of this title as this section and substituted reference to section 9832 of this title for reference to section 9805 of this title in subsecs. (b) and (c)(1) to (3).

Effective Date Of Amendment

Effective Date of 1997 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–34 applicable with respect to group health plans for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 1998, see section 1531(c) of Pub. L. 105–34, set out as a note under section 4980D of this title.