Employee Benefits Institute of America

Topics Covered

Here’s some of what was covered:

• What should open enrollment materials say, how should they be distributed, and who should receive them? What’s the best way to use open enrollment materials to satisfy other notice requirements (under HIPAA, COBRA, or ERISA)?
• What information should you require regarding dependent eligibility, including for Medicare Secondary Payer reporting compliance? How should you respond to employee or beneficiary requests for information?
• Addressing new legal rules and guidance. The impact of Michelle’s law, the wind down of COBRA premium assistance, new HIPAA special enrollment rules, and recent IRS guidance on eligible medical expenses.
• Cafeteria plan issues. How do you make sure elections are made early enough but don’t start too soon? What should be done about late elections and election mistakes? How to use automatic, evergreen, or negative elections.
• Insurance issues. Traps to avoid when communicating new coverage or changing insurers. How to protect against enrollment mistakes and disputes with insurers.