According to ERISA regulations, how many days must a summary plan description be provided to a new plan member from their eligibility date?

The correct answer is that a summary plan description must be provided to a new plan member within 90 days from their eligibility date, according to ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) regulations. This requirement ensures that individuals are adequately informed about the specifics of their benefits, rights, and responsibilities under their employee benefit plan soon after they become eligible. ERISA mandates that participants receive a summary that outlines essential information about the plan, which is critical for their decision-making regarding health and retirement benefits.

While the time frames associated with the other choices may reflect different regulatory compliance needs in other scenarios, they do not align with the established 90-day requirement set forth under ERISA for delivering summary plan descriptions to newly eligible plan participants. This timeline is designed to strike a balance between providing sufficient information to new members while also allowing plan administrators the necessary time to prepare and deliver these documents adequately.