(1) Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, rule, or regulation, a carrier furnishing documents through electronic media is deemed to satisfy the notice and disclosure requirements regarding adverse benefit determinations with respect to applicants, covered persons, and appellants or their representative, if the carrier takes appropriate and necessary measures reasonably calculated to ensure that the system for furnishing documents, including ensuring that its measures:

(a) Result in actual receipt of transmitted information (e.g., using return-receipt or notice of undelivered electronic mail features, conducting periodic reviews or surveys to confirm receipt of the transmitted information);

(b) Protect the confidentiality of personal information relating to the individual's accounts and benefits (e.g., incorporating into the system measures designed to preclude unauthorized receipt of or access to such information by individuals other than the individual for whom the information is intended);

(c) Provide notice in electronic or nonelectronic form, at the time a document is furnished electronically, that apprises the recipient of the significance of the document when it is not otherwise reasonably evident as transmitted (e.g., the attached document describes the internal review process used by your plan) and of the right to request and obtain a paper version of such document; and

(d) Furnish the appellant or their representative with a paper version of the electronically furnished documents if requested.

(2) Subsection (1) of this section only applies to the following individuals:

(a) An appellant who affirmatively consents, in electronic or nonelectronic form, to receiving documents through electronic media and has not withdrawn such consent.

(b) In the case of documents to be furnished through the internet or other electronic communication network, one that has affirmatively consented or confirmed consent electronically, in a manner that reasonably demonstrates the individual's ability to access information in the electronic form that will be used to provide the information that is the subject of the consent, and has provided an address for the receipt of electronically furnished documents;

(c) Prior to consenting, is provided, in electronic or nonelectronic form, a clear and conspicuous statement indicating:

(i) The types of documents to which the consent would apply;

(ii) That consent can be withdrawn at any time without charge;

(iii) The procedures for withdrawing consent and for updating the individual's electronic address for receipt of electronically furnished documents or other information;

(iv) The right to request and obtain a paper version of an electronically furnished document, including whether the paper version will be provided free of charge; and

(v) Any hardware and software requirements for accessing and retaining the documents.

(3) Following consent, if a change in hardware or software requirements needed to access or retain electronic documents creates a material risk that the individual will be unable to access or retain electronically furnished documents, the carrier must provide:

(a) A statement of the revised hardware or software requirements for access to and retention of electronically furnished documents;

(b) The individual receiving electronic communications with the right to withdraw consent without charge and without the imposition of any condition or consequence that was not disclosed at the time of the initial consent.

(c) The carrier must request and receive a new consent to the receipt of documents through electronic media, following a hardware or software requirement change as described in this subsection.