Can you request gender information to administer H&W benefits?

[ACC]

Is there any prohibition on asking for an employee's or their dependent's gender when enrolling them in group benefit plans similar to the prohibitions on asking for gender on job applications? I understand that you cannot deny benefits because of gender but are you allowed to even request that information or have your TPA request that information to administer benefits or is it prohibited? Any assistance it helpful. Thanks.

[leevena]

Not a problem. 

[Larry Starr]

Asking the age/sex info is perfectly ok as long as the person is already hired. However, the information collected can also not be used to discriminate against protected classes of employees.  Group benefit programs?  No problem.

[ACC]

Thanks!