The US Department of Labor has proposed a new rule to modernize how group health plans deliver required documents electronically, a change the agency says is aimed at lowering administrative costs for employers and improving access for workers.
The proposal, announced by the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration on July 22, 2026, would update the rules that govern how plan information reaches participants. According to the Department, the goal of the DOL electronic delivery rule is to reduce paperwork and mailing expenses tied to distributing notices, disclosures, and other required materials to people covered by workplace health plans.
The announcement affects two main groups: participants enrolled in group health plans and the employers who sponsor them. If finalized, the rule would give plan administrators clearer standards for sending documents by email or through online portals instead of relying primarily on paper.
What is the DOL electronic delivery rule for group health plans?
The rule is a proposal to modernize the framework for delivering group health plan disclosures electronically. The Department of Labor described it as a step to cut costs associated with printing and mailing the many notices that health plans are legally required to provide.
Calculate Your 2026 COLA Increase →Because it is a proposed rule rather than a final one, it is not yet in effect. The Department published the proposal so that the public, employers, and other interested parties can review it before any final version takes hold.
Who is affected by the proposed rule?
- Group health plan participants: People enrolled in employer-sponsored health coverage who receive plan notices and disclosures.
- Employers and plan sponsors: Businesses that offer group health plans and are responsible for distributing required documents to participants.
For participants, the change centers on how they receive information about their coverage. For employers, it targets the expense and effort of getting those documents into people’s hands.
Why did the Department of Labor propose this change?
The Department framed the proposal as a way to lower costs and bring health plan communications in line with how people already handle most of their paperwork online. Mailing physical documents to large numbers of plan participants carries printing and postage expenses, and the proposed rule seeks to ease that burden by making electronic delivery a more practical default.
The Department has not, in this announcement, published specific dollar figures for the savings it expects. Anyone looking for precise cost estimates should consult the full proposal directly rather than assume a number.
How can I read the proposal or comment on it?
The Department of Labor posted the announcement through its Employee Benefits Security Administration. You can read the official release at the Department’s newsroom page:
- Official announcement: https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/ebsa/ebsa20260722
Proposed rules like this one typically open a public comment period, during which employers, participants, and other interested parties can submit feedback before the Department issues a final version. The exact comment deadline and submission process are not detailed here, so check the official release for those instructions.
What happens next?
Because this is a proposal, nothing changes for group health plans immediately. The Department will review the proposal, take public input, and then decide whether to finalize it, revise it, or set it aside. Employers should watch for further guidance before adjusting how they distribute plan documents.
Until a final rule is published, existing delivery requirements continue to apply. Participants who want to understand how their own plan communicates with them can ask their plan administrator or human resources department about current and future electronic delivery options.
