Small insured welfare plan reporting exemptions

P/OPINION   76-121

                                                    104(a)(3)
                     December 9, 1976
 Re: Exemption from reporting and disclosure requirements
     for welfare plans
 Dear

Thank you for your letter requesting an exemption from
certain reporting and disclosure requirements of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
We regret the delay in responding.
You state that (named), Inc., sponsors three employee
welfare plans, all of which cover fewer than 100
participants.

Benefits are exclusively provided through insurance
policies, the premiums for which are paid partly by direct
contribution from the employer's general assets and partly
from employee contributions. Contributions of partici-
pants are forwarded by the employer within three months of
receipt. Rebates to which contributing participants are
entitled are returned to them and they are informed upon
entry into the plan of the provisions concerning the
allocation of rebates.

You request to be exempted from filing reports with the
Department of Labor, furnishing participants and
beneficiaries with a summary of the annual report, plan
description and technical report, and making available in
the principal office of the administrator a copy of the
plan description or annual report.

Based on the information you furnished us, and provided
the rebates are made to plan participants within three
months of receipt, the plans described in your letter
qualify for the exemptions listed under §2520.104-20 of
the August 15, 1975 regulations. The list contained
therein encompasses all those exemptions specifically
requested in your letter. We hope this information will
be useful to you.

 Sincerely,