through rulemaking. Such requirements shall ensure that such files are limited to an appropriate size, do not include information that is duplicative of information contained in other files made available under such subsection, are made available in a widely-available format that allows for information contained in such files to be compared across group health plans, and are accessible to individuals at no cost and without the need to establish a user account or provide other credentials. (B) Real-time provision of information (i) In general Subject to clause (ii), beginning January 1, 2026, rate and payment information required to be made available by a group health plan under subsection (a)(9) shall, in addition to being made available in the manner described in subparagraph (A), be made available through an application program interface (or successor technology) that provides access to such information in real time and that meets such technical standards as may be specified by the Secretary. (ii) Exemption for certain plans and coverage Clause (i) shall not apply with respect to information described in such clause required to be made available by a group health plan if such plan provides benefits for fewer than 500 participants and beneficiaries. (3) User guide The Secretary, Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Secretary of Labor shall jointly make available to the public instructions written in plain language explaining how individuals may search for information described in paragraph (1) in files submitted in accordance with paragraph (2). (4) Annual summary For each year (beginning with 2025), each group health plan shall make public a machine-readable file meeting such standards as established by the Secretary under paragraph (2) containing a summary of all rate and payment information made public by such plan with respect to such plan or coverage during such year (such as averages of all such information so made public). (e) Attestation Each group health plan shall annually submit to the