Category Archives: SPD summary plan description

by BC2

An Essential Guide to Understanding ERISA Wrap Documents

Essential Guide to Understanding ERISA Wrap Documents

Many employers understand the significance of complying with ERISA (Employee Retirement Security Act) plan documents. These documents hold disclosure requirements for various retirement plans, including 401(k). But it’s startling to see some employer’s poor attention towards health and welfare benefit plans in their companies.

erisa wrap document servicesUsually, employers mostly running smaller organizations assume that benefit summaries offered by some insurance providers meet all ERISA regulations. However, the truth is that all employers in the U.S are obligated under ERISA laws to fashion employees with all the information missing in insurer’s booklets.

What are ERISA Wrap Documents?

As an employer, you might be wondering what an ERISA Wrap document is. Well, regardless of the size of your company, ERISA laws require all employees to provide Wrap or SPDs (Summary Plan descriptions) to employees participating in their plans. These documents contain all plan descriptions as well as employee benefits. For instance, they include Tax IDs, Address and the names of the beneficiaries, etc. They are the simplest way of employers to comply with ERISA regulations.

Wrap documents “wraps” around insurance policies or cover with the plan benefits regulated by the insurance company. Additionally, wrap documents are designed to supplement relevant information for ERISA compliance. Furthermore, employers may use Wrap documents to merge employee’s welfare plans into one mega-wrap plan. This way, extra costs are minimized during the filing of annual reports.

Why are Wrap Documents Important?

  1. Plan Consolidation – As earlier mentioned, wrap documents helps in merging employee’s health and welfare benefits into one “umbrella” plan. They consolidate all plan benefits and provides an overarching summary of admins, plan type, benefits, and fiduciaries, among other vital details in an easy to understand manner.
  2. Simpler ERISA Compliance – They reduce the employer’s workload and allows for easier compliance with ERISA, IRS, and DOL regulations. In case you have been submitting Form 5500 per each benefit plan annually, then a Wrap document can remove the repetition processes.
  3. Compliance with Federal Laws – As an employer, you have the sole responsibility to provide clear information on procedures, employee benefits, and plan details. Additionally, you’ll be forced to protect employee’s plan assets no matter who provides your benefits to comply with federal regulations.

How to Adopt a Wrap Plan

When planning to adopt a Wrap plan, the process is quite simple. First, you need to determine which benefit plans your organization sponsors that are subject to ERISA. You can as well identify affiliate employer plans that require filling the annual Form 5500.

Then, you’ll need to analyze insurance arrangements, coverage terms, and plan’s administration processes. In this step, consider things such as eligibility, plan year, commencement date, and claim procedures.

The next step is to prepare the Summary Plan Descriptions and the plan document. Finally, you can adopt a Wrap plan after all the documents in the step above have been reviewed thoroughly. Do not forget to distribute the SPDs to all eligible employees.

Use this comprehensive guide to understand more information on ERISA compliance and Wrap documents. Are you still stuck on adopting an effective Wrap Plan?

Get ERISA wrap document services for your business.

Call: (515)-244-2424

Email: [email protected]

Or Request Quote Here

by BC2

Understanding Plan Documents And ERISA Compliance

Understanding Plan Documents And ERISA benefits compliance in a blog post.

What are Plan Documents?

Plan documents are crucial in describing the terms and conditions of any given plan’s model of administration and operation. They are vital requirements for each employee’s welfare plan maintained by an employer in written form and in compliance with ERISA laws. Plan documents are not defined by an insurer’s Certificate of Coverage, Master Contract, or the Summary of Benefits. Additionally, the same can be said concerning Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs). It is possible for ERISA plans to exist even in the absence of written documents – non-compliant.

ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) is a typical United States federal law. This law was passed to protect different employee plans, including profit sharing, pension, and retirement plans. Additionally, it safeguards welfare benefit plans such as insurance plans covering disability, health, dental, life, and other minor plans. The Department of Labor primarily enforces ERISA compliance in the U.S.

How Can One Differentiate Plan Documents and SPDs?

Maybe you’ve just been contracted by a particular company to assist in implementing healthcare & welfare plans subject to ERISA. How do you contrast plan documents and SPDs? Well, ERISA expects employee benefit plans to have both SPD and plan documents. However, as we shall discuss below, any one of the two can serve dual purposes.

  1. Plan Documents – in plan document definition, those subject to ERISA compliance must be “formulated and managed per written instruments” known as plan documents. Plan documents are extensive documents that define the rights of participants and their beneficiaries. They are also utilized by the specific plan admins as a reliable guide while making decisions. They highlight available benefits, eligibility, named fiduciary, funding, amendment clauses, and plan’s responsibility allocation.
  2. Summary Plan Descriptions – SPDs are other crucial documents required by ERISA for employee benefit plans. They are vital in communicating summarized plan information to parties involved. SPDs may include eligibility requirements, benefits descriptions, and reasons for loss/denial of benefits. Other things include ERISA’s participant statement of rights and the process of claiming benefits. These documents must be written to be easily understood by all parties involved.
  3. Combined PD and SPD – A single document may be used to serve as plan document as well as SPD. If this approach is used, it must be as per ERISA’s plan document laws as well as SPD’s regulations.

Why ERISA Compliance is Necessary for Health and Welfare Plans

Regardless of their size, healthcare & welfare benefit plans are strictly required to obey ERISA regulations. These regulations apply to all employer-financed group healthcare plans, including the full and self-insured plans. Additionally, private companies, proprietorships and partnerships must comply too. Only a handful plans such as governmental (state, federal, county, and city) plans and religious plans are exempted from ERISA regulations. Furthermore, benefits deemed as “regular payroll practices” such as overtime pay are also exempted.

What are the Requirements for ERISA Retirement Plans?

ERISA has laws that protect employee funds deposited in their retirement accounts during the entire working period. But it should be understood that employers are not obliged to institute retirement plans for their workers. But for those who do, they are subject to ERISA compliance and thus should set the required minimum retirement plan standards. A retirement plan is termed ERISA compliant if:

  1. There is ease access of written information by parties involved concerning their Qualified Retirement Plan finances dished out via hard copies or periodically through their mails.
  2. Employers can easily explain the process required by participants to claim their benefits without any difficulty.
  3. Highly diversified plans that help minimize risks of financial loss during investment.
  4. The parties involved have a proper understanding of their respective retirement plans. Additionally, employees require to be furnished with periodic financial statements concerning their retirement accounts.

What Happens if You Fail to Comply?

Employers may find themselves in hot soup for failing to comply with ERISA laws and may be slapped with fines as high as $1,100 daily per each late Form5500. Additionally, late submission of SMM, SPD, OR SAR to involved parties may attract up to $110 in daily fines. These stiff penalties are applied to each plan and are cumulative. Failure to comply with these laws can amount to employee complaints that may cost more time and money on the employer’s part.

Understanding ERISA compliance is crucial for employers and all parties involved. Companies or organization essentially need to hire experts well-versed with ERISA compliance to handle related matters. We hope this post helps you have a better understanding of document definitions as well as ERISA compliance.

form 5500 preparation, plan documents

Benefits Compliance Consultants can help you.

by BC2

All You Need To Know About Summary Plan Descriptions (SPD)

Summary Plan Descriptions (SPD) And All You Wanted To Know About Them

It is imperative for the Benefit Plans which are subject to Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to furnish the workers with an SPD (Summary Plan Description) and this document must be kept updated as well. Summary Plan Descriptions can be considered to be the primary legal documentation for the purpose of communicating plan rights, benefits, as well as obligations to the workers of a business.

business is held together by compliance and its workersIt is imperative to provide an SPD within a span of 3 months after covering an employee with this benefit plan. On the contrary, it will be possible to provide the SPD within 120 days in case the plan happens to be a new one.

Any info mentioned within an SPD is liable to modifications. In the event of any such change, it is feasible to restate SPD or even amend it by means of an SMM (Summary of Material Modification). A Summary of Material Modification is implemented for describing any alteration in the plan. In general, it will be imperative to provide an SMM within a span of 210 days following the completion of the plan year when the adaptation of the change took place. Nevertheless, it will be compulsory to provide the SMM within 2 months of the date when the change was adopted in case the alteration is related to a reduction of covered services or benefits.

To get the best effects, a lot of employers are in the habit of providing an SPD along with the enrollment materials of the plan before the plan is able to cover the employee, while the SMM will likewise be provided by the employers before the effectual date of modification. In case a plan is being amended by means of an SMM, it will be essential to restate the SPD for incorporating all SMMs and it must also be provided once again every 5 years to the participants.

Below, we have mentioned what descriptions must be included by the Summary Plan Descriptions or SPD plans as per the regulations of the Department of labor.

Descriptions to be included in SPD plans:

• Provisions for cost-sharing consisting of deductibles, premiums, coinsurance plus co-payment amounts for which the beneficiary or participant is going to be responsible

• Whether the plan will cover any new or existing drug

• Lifetime or yearly caps or any other restrictions on benefits provided by the plan

• The plan covers the preventative services to what extent

• Whether the plan provides any coverage for medicinal devices, procedures, or tests

• The limits or conditions that are applicable for obtaining the emergency medicinal care

• Limitations or conditions on the selection of specialty medicinal care providers or primary care providers

• It is also essential for the SPD to explain how will it be feasible to obtain the plan benefits as well as the procedure for appealing any denied benefit

• Provisions involving utilization review so as to obtain a service or benefit under the plan

The methods of delivery:

The SPD ought to be delivered by the administrator to the participants through reasonable calculation for ensuring actual receipt.

We like to mention another essential thing here: It is compulsory to treat any pursuant covered by children to a competent medicinal child support order (or their caretakers) as well as the surviving spouses as partakers for purposes of the rules of the SPD delivery.

The permissible methods of delivery are going to consist of the following:

• First class mail

• Hand delivery

• Electronic in case the worker does have any work-related access to the computer as an integral part of their day-to-day chores and:

  1. The employer takes reasonably calculated measures to make sure that the system intended for furnishing the documents leads to the actual receipt of information which has been transmitted (for example, making use of return receipts, notice of any electrical mail feature which has been undelivered, and so forth)
  2. The recipient is advised by the electronic notice that he or she will get hold of a paper copy without paying anything at all upon request
  3. The recipient is informed by the electronic notice regarding the significance of the document

It will be imperative for the plan administrator to take appropriate and also sensible steps in case a disclosure consists of any personal info pertaining to the accounts as well as benefits of an individual, and he will do this with the intention of safeguarding that information’s confidentiality.

Do you have additional questions or need assistance with your Summary Plan Descriptions? We also do other compliance consulting including Form 5500, 401K and wrap plans. Do not hesitate to contact us with your business compliance issue. We are the experts in benefits compliance consulting!

www.bc2co.com

Phone: (515)-244-2424

by BC2

Technology Compliance Benefits Businesses

Compliance benefits businesses in many ways.

It is obvious we live in a world where technology has now become part of our daily lives. Technology has come to change so many things that were hard to accomplish to be easy tasks completed in a matter of minutes.

Technology has made life quite easy in all aspects not just in the business world. Communication has been enhanced greatly between people who are miles away but they can now see each other as they converse. Information from the head company will reach its branches in a short span of time thanks to technology.

However, there is no good thing that does not have its share of downfalls. Technology too has its limitations. Sometimes it may not be in compliance with the set ethics and standards. It has drastic setbacks in as much as it has made work much easier. In this article, you are going to learn about the benefits of technology in the compliance industry and also the disadvantages of technology as far as compliance is concerned.

Merits of Compliance Technology

It is through technology that compliance programs are able to reduce risk, enhance flexibility, increase efficiency and improve on their performance.

1. Reduce Risk

Your business requires you to roll out a risk-based compliance structure. Technology is known to manage risks more effectively. If you have sufficient knowledge on your compliance program as a complete loop then you have better chances of knowing how to handle when risks occur before they become catastrophic problems.

This will lead to an effective program and thus reduces instances of potential lawsuits. It ensures you reduce your expenses on insurance premiums. Risky activities will now have less impact on the organization’s core business.

Accessing real-time data enables you to find weaknesses and upcoming issues in your program. You will therefore be able to deal with that problem before it grows to a major disaster and hence continuance improvement of your program.

2. Enhance Flexibility

This is another benefits compliance of technology. Have a look back at the time when there were no electrical gadgets like phones and computers. Everything was just very slow and even misquoted. Information did not reach people at the right time.

But look at the world we live in today. Everything is so swift and accurate just like what is needed for the compliance programs. They are constantly changing and therefore people need to adopt real quick. The program ought to be scalable, changeable and flexible to help your employees get updated on any issues and also give them a chance to show their reaction.
As companies grow and open up new branches in other areas, they also need to extend their compliance programs to these new entities to ensure benefits compliance is achieved as you run the program. This pushes the companies to move the compliance technology from desktop and static storage to cloud-based interfaces that are also mobile-friendly.

3. Increase Efficiency

An efficient compliance program needs to have a backbone. These are the driving factors of the same. They are normally the controls, procedures, and policies. The ancient types of programs did not make things run efficiently but technology has really eased the compliance programs and made it an easy task for people.
It becomes easier to develop and upgrade that program, to refresh, review and even update it.

4. Improve Performance

A centralized type of compliance program is more efficient. In the old days, technology was not used as of now where business is keeping the program centralized and control from only one point. This definitely increases your team performance and the program as a whole.
Integrated platforms allow the teams in the organization to link their data together and get to know how a part of your program affects the other.

compliance benefits

Technology Setbacks

The major downfall of technology is they are prone to attack. This is especially if we are talking about electronic gadgets such as computers. They can be attacked by harmful programs that will erase all that is stored on the computer.

These digital tools also use electricity for them to function. In case you do not have back-up generators to use when electricity is lost then the technology is useless at that instance.
Some believe technology have made humans become lazy. Since most of these tasks are being done by machines you find that if the technology fails to work then probably no work that day. Whereas it could just be a simple task but humans are now used to the machine so they feel they cannot do it. Others might believe that the machines do more work in one day than humans do in a month and does a better job. Either way, technology compliance benefits businesses.

We make the process simple. We are ERISA compliance specialists.

Phone: (515)-244-2424

E-Mail: [email protected]

by BC2

ERISA Wrap Plan Document Preparers Are Available For Business

Before exploring the ERISA Wrap Plan Document Preparers, everyone should know about a few mandatory terms like “What is ERISA?”, “How it is associated with terms like Wrap Plan document?”, “Benefits of ERISA”, “Summary Plan Description”, “Summary of Material Modification (SMM) documents” etc. In this article, we will explore above-mentioned terms in detail. Let’s explore them one by one.

ERISA: ERISA is termed as the “Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974” implemented for United States employees. It creates minimum standards plans for employees working in private industry in terms of pension plans.

Plan Document: A plan document consists of all the benefits which will be given employees such as welfare and health benefits. It does not depend upon the company size, whether it’s small or big.

Every company is bound to manage a plan document for every employee. A plan document also consists of the overall term and condition of the plan prepared by the employer. It is not compulsory to write a plan document. If you don’t have a plan document in writing, then don’t worry. We can help.

Wrap Plan Document: A wrap plan document is similar to a plan document. But there is a minor difference in both of them i.e. A wrap plan document consists of every welfare and health benefits plan and wraps them all into one single plan document.

Wrap Document Preparation: ERISA allows all employee to claim their welfare benefit. For this, they must have a written plan document. Basic information about the plan is usually recognized by the written document.

Summary Plan Description (SPD): Summary plan Description usually known as SPD is a written document containing welfare benefit plan of an employee which every employer must have. Major aspects covered by the SPD are: Plan name, Plan number, Plan year, the Plan administrator, Detailed summary and description of benefits, Employer tax identification number (EIN), Benefit type, Plan sponsor, List and contact information of providers, Procedures for Qualified Medical Child Support Orders, Loss of benefits statement, USERRA rights, COBRA rights, Statement of ERISA rights, Claims and appeals procedures, Disclaimer and indemnification language, Affordable Care Act disclosures, Plan contribution information etc. Also, the participant must know about the benefits, claims, eligibility requirements, his/her rights etc. and every organization is bound to disclose all this information to the participant. For more information about SPD, contact us through call or email. You can get our contact information from the contact us section.

Summary of Material Modifications (SMM): Summary of Material Modifications usually known as SMM is particularly used by companies when a plan substantially affects the pricing and other key terms. The deadline for submitting Summary of Material Modifications (SMM) is 120 days. Within 120 days, companies should inform the participant about the changes or modifications in their plans. If a company does not submit Summary of Material Modifications (SMM) documents within 30 days after the participant requests it, then there is a penalty of/up to 110$ per day.

Some of the most famous Summary of Material Modifications (SMM) changes:

1. Modification in Coverage
2. Decrease or Removal of benefits payable

Why choose us for ERISA Wrap Plan Document Preparers: We are one of the leading and best in this industry. We have experienced professionals who will help you prepare your ERISA wrap plan document. Some of our services are:

• If you are in need of Assessment of your Plan Document, then you are at the right place. Just fill out your details in the contact form. Our representative will contact you within 24 hours.
• We also provide service like Complimentary review of current Plan documents. As it helps employees to know us better.
• Our experts are one of the best in creating document particularly when it comes Single or multiple benefit Plan Documents and Wrap Plan Documents.
• Summary Plan Descriptions (SPD) and Summary of Material Modifications (SMM) are the two key terms in ERISA wrap document. Contact us for more information.
• We also provide services like Educational presentations, Delivery of required materials, seminars and onsite training. Reach us by email or call.

Still can’t choose our services. Let’s connect over a phone call or email.

Phone: (515)-244-2424

[email protected]

We believe in customer satisfaction. We would love to hear your queries and resolve them.

Get ERISA Compliance Quote

by BC2

Is A Wrap SPD Needed?

We understand the hassles that come with changing labor and tax regulations. That’s why we lend our services from consultation to wrap SPD document generation for employers wishing to comply with these regulations. Is a Wrap SPD needed?

is a wrap spd needed

Are you hitting a brick wall with business compliance?

But just what is a wrap SPD? This is a document disclosing details of benefits, the employer affords the employee in compensation for services rendered and is required to be by law to be filed with the department of labor. We’re here to simplify the compliance process for employers.

When the Studebaker Corporation closed down the operations in 1963 due to inability to meet pension promises made to employers, the federal government moved to enact pension reforms. Through the 1974 Employee Retirement Income Security Act all the employers are supposed to view benefit payments to pension plan participants as a form of corporate debt, the participants being the lenders to the sponsor of the plan and therefore comply with some reporting and disclosure rules.

This new perspective requires transparent financial reporting and filing of Form 5500 annually, detailing conditions of benefit plans. Additionally, employers have to provide employees with Summary Plan Description (SPD) of how they will be compensated for their services. Compliance with this ERISA reporting and disclosure rules means additional administrative tasks and documents to be filed. To avoid such extra regulatory burdens, employers have therefore sought ways in which they can simplify these extra administrative tasks.

One stellar way is to use the WRAP SPD. What is WRAP SPD? In the quest to smoothen pension plans administrative tasks, employers have decided to roll up all employee benefits into a single plan and summarize the benefits in a single document using ERISA language. This document is the SPD WRAP document, and it provides details of: All the welfare and health benefits the employer offers the employee and beneficiaries. References to complementary Insurance booklets and certificates Disclosures mandated by ERISA and COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) ERISA however, in particular on how the SPD document content, language, formatting, and deadline. Additionally, changing labor laws make the preparation of the document hectic. That’s why employers need help when it comes to ERISA compliance. We can help employers make the necessary compliance adjustments and also generate the wrap SPD documents using our updated continuously ERISA wrap SPD system.

Who needs WRAP SPD? ERISA is a USA federal tax and labor law that tell Private Sector employers the minimum pension standards they have to comply with. Any private industry employer that provides welfare and health plans, therefore, must satisfy ERISA SPD requirements Health, welfare and other Employer Assistance Programs subject to ERISA requirements must comply with these reporting and disclosure rules.

1. Disclosure: Provide employees with a readable summary of information about the plan. This includes a summarized description of terms and conditions of the program and contains the name and number of the pension plan, benefits afforded plus amounts deductible and co-pay and eligibility requirements. Other mandated information includes the claim filing and investigation process and information on the plan sponsor and trustees. If it’s a medical plan, the employer should detail all the benefits it provided before the 2010 Affordable Care Act.

Additionally, disclose information regarding mothers and newborns. Provide information on COBRA rights if subjected to one. 2. Reporting When it comes to reporting, large plans with more than 100 participants, employers are to annually report on the plan status by filing form 5500 with the labor department and the Internal Revenue Service. Plans with less than 100 participants must file form 5500-SF.

These forms detail if a plan is funded or unfunded plus other operations and investments. Importance of SPD WRAP documents Using wrap to bundle all benefits into a single plan then summarize it in ERISA language for SPD compliance reduces plan administration tasks. The wrap document also makes references to insurance certificates and master contract booklets; therefore, satisfy the SPD.

SPD is used by the Department of Labor to review a firm’s file during an audit. The document, therefore, makes it easy to review and file the form 5500 as only one form is submitted. Additionally, SPD helps translate complex actuarial language into ERISA required, simple style that employees can understand. Failure to comply with ERISA SPD rules attracts a fine. No other documents can be used as WRAP SPD alternatives; this is because the language used and reporting requirement in SPD document differs from different materials such as Insurance booklets and should not be substituted with such. The wrap document, therefore, helps to avoid penalties.

The WRAP SPD not only soothes plan administration tasks but also gives auditors and employees evidence of employer’s consciousness towards the health and welfare of the employee.

Is a wrap SPD needed? BC2CO can help with your wrap plan document needs.

Contact: (515)-244-2424

Request Quote

by BC2

What Is ERISA Wrap SPD? Everything You Need To Know

What is ERISA Wrap SPD?

If you don’t know the answer to this question, you’re not alone. There are many people that are unfamiliar with ERISA and its requirements. A lack of knowledge could cause a number of problems for you.

Who Needs To Learn About ERISA?

Anyone who is either an employer or an employee should take the time to educate themselves about ERISA. If you are an employer, federal law requires you to meet the ERISA requirements. If you are an employee, then you are entitled to certain things because of ERISA requirements. You should make sure you are getting everything that you need.

It’s okay if you don’t know a lot about ERISA right now, but you should work to change that. You can find answers to many common questions below.

What Is ERISA Wrap SPD?

ERISA stands for the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. It describes a group of federal laws that were specifically designed to protect the employees that work for a company that provides things like pension or retirement plans. It also protects employees who work for a business that provides insurance coverage.

If an employer offers a plan that is subject to ERISA, they need to make sure that they follow compliance procedures. This includes proper reporting, written plan documents, and a process for documenting claims. Employees must also fill out necessary forms, such as the Summary Annual Reports.

SPD stands for Summary Plan Description. This is a detailed description of the plans and benefits provided. The booklets that insurance companies provide are not enough to be SPD compliant. Employers will have to work to satisfy the Department of Labor requirements.

A Wrap plan can help employers to do exactly that. A Wrap plan is a plan document that can either wrap around one benefit or combine multiple benefits into a single document. With a Wrap plan, employers can ensure that they have documentation with proper ERISA language that they can distribute to their employees.

erisa wrap spd

Who Is Exempt From These Regulations?

The majority of employers are subject to ERISA regulations. The only employers that are exempt are the employers that do not offer benefits like retirement plans or health insurance at all. LLCs, corporations, and nonprofits all have to comply with these regulations.

With that said, there are a few exemptions to the rules that are in place. Governmental employers do not have to follow these regulations, and church plans are exempt as well. This is because churches are currently exempt from taxes. While these types of employers are exempt right now, it’s possible that this could change in the future.

What Are The Penalties For Failing To Meet ERISA Requirements?

If a company does not meet the requirements outlined by ERISA, they will have to face a number of penalties. If the SPD is not given to the Department of Labor by the necessary deadline, employers can be fined up to $152 a day until the correct documentation is given.

If a company continually refuses to submit this documentation, additional penalties could be added on to the ones described above. Any company that is subject to these requirements needs to work hard to make sure that they are compliant with existing regulations.

Request quote now:

If you’re a business owner, you’ll want to take the time to learn more about ERISA and what it requires. You should ask us how we can take away the worries of ERISA compliance.

Need ERISA Wrap SPD Service? Call (515) 214-2424

by BC2

Recognizing Summary Plan Description Distribution Requirements

Summary Plan Description Distribution RequirementsWrap plan documents are commonly used by the companies that are trying to find a way to truly present their benefits plans effectively. They need to be able to demonstrate their ERISA compliance in the first place. They also have to communicate effectively with their employees, their investors, and many of the other parties who will be interested in their ERISA compliance. It’s important for them to be aware of summary plan description distribution requirements.

These plans absolutely have to include a summary of the relevant documents. Wrap plans themselves are summaries, which can make things easier already. However, it’s possible to be even more organized than that, especially for the organizations that already have very detailed plans and who need to make sure that everything that they have been comprehensible.

This wrap plan needs to be worded effectively and clearly.

While it should be written formally, of course, the language should still be less formal than the language that will typically be used throughout the rest of the wrap document itself. This summary is what a lot of employees are going to consult when they are trying to understand what is going to be contained in a particular benefits package.

Other professionals will probably consult this summary before they look at anything else in the associated documents. They might only decide to look at the summary, in fact. Even professional scientists will sometimes only read the abstract of a particular science paper, since they have a tendency to read so many different scientific journal articles on a regular basis and they need to be able to save time.

The contents of the wrap plan are excessively important, especially for the people who are trying to find a way to quickly and accurately explain everything to large groups of people, or at least to potentially large groups of people. Obviously, these are documents that can be altered, addressed, and revised. However, getting it right the first time is important, especially since it will provide a useful template for when everything inevitably gets updated at some point.

It’s important to be concise when writing a summary, which has to be relatively short by definition. Specifically, the coverage limitations need to be mentioned, if only briefly. The summary plan is not going to be able to include all of these additional details, but it should at least give people an idea of the extent of the coverage in question. The wrap plan should certainly include direct information on the benefits themselves. People should not just be able to work backwards, figuring out the benefits based on the limitations associated with the benefits and the coverage.

There might be some cost-sharing provisions that should be mentioned in the summary plan, especially if these cost-sharing provisions are substantial at all. However, as long as they are in any way notable, they should still be included as part of this important summary.

Employees will need to have an idea about how they should file benefits claims. While they might have a general idea of how to do this, it’s still important to make this clear. Employees will also be able to participate in these benefits plans at different times, and there should be information related to the timetable involved.

These wrap plans will certainly change at some point, and everything else will have to be revised accordingly. In some cases, informing people about the changes through a different document, such as a summary of the modifications, can suffice.

Companies that present everything this effectively will be able to avoid a lot of issues in the future. They won’t run into problems with miscommunication. In many cases, they will also manage to save themselves a lot of time and effort in the long run. Once these sorts of documents are established, they will usually only need to be modified every now and then. Most of the work will have already been completed. As long as the wrap plan documents and the associated summaries are completed effectively enough initially, there shouldn’t be any worries at all. Getting some assistance with this process can certainly help, especially for the employers who are used to working with lots of different professionals.

Summary Plan Description Distribution Requirements

Do you have additional questions? PH: (515) 244-2424

Does your business need wrap plan preparation. Let us help!

Or request a quote fast.

 

by BC2

Are You ERISA Compliant? Hire a Consultant to Provide Guidance

ERISA, which stands for Employee Retirement Income Security Act is a federal law that safeguards retirement plans such as 401ks and health and welfare benefit plans for private employers. The law has been amended many times since its inception in 1974 in order to provide wider benefits for participants and beneficiaries. The law is administered by the Department of Labor and while violation can have serious consequences in the way of penalties imposed by the DOL, participants and beneficiaries can also launch lawsuits against employers who they feel are not ERISA compliant.

Any employer who maintains welfare benefits plans for employees is subject to this law. This includes corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, sole proprietorships and nonprofit organizations. The size of the employer doesn’t matter – so long as the employees are subject to benefits the employer is subject to ERISA compliance. There are, however, a couple of exemptions:

• Benefits plans that are maintained by government employers are not subject to ERISA and that includes local, state and federal.

• Benefits plans that are maintained by religious organizations are also exempt.

A small employer who wants to be exempt would have to find a way to fit in either of these two categories.

Which benefits are covered by ERISA compliance?

There are many of them and that is why many employers would rather hire a consultant to deal with this specific issue. Compliance can be tricky and confusing and sometimes employers find themselves afoul of the law through no fault of their own. The benefits that are covered include:

• Medical, hospital and surgical benefits

• Dental benefits

• Vision benefits

• Prescription drug benefits

• Health reimbursement benefits

• Health flexible spending accounts

• Group insurance benefits

• Accidental death and dismemberment

• Death benefits (not life insurance)

• Wellness programs

• Employee assistance plans

• Short term and long term disability benefits

• Disease specific benefits

There are certain benefits that are not covered under ERISA compliance:

• Adoption assistance plans

• Section 125 premium only plans

• Commuting benefits

• Dependent care assistance programs

• Health saving accounts

• Pet insurance

• Financial retirement planning programs

• Health and exercise club memberships

• Liability insurance plans

• Professional development classes

• Scholarship programs

• Tuition reimbursement

• Workman’s compensation as provided by state law

As is often the case with the law, in each of these categories there are clauses and sub-clauses that can be very confusing to a layman. Even for those who understand the law navigating the issue can be a time consuming process that takes them away from other more important duties in the workplace. That is why it is such a good idea to hire a consultant. An ERISA compliance consultant understands what it means to be ERISA complaint and ensures that all clients are doing as required by law.

How do you choose an ERISA compliance consultant?

There are many agencies that claim to help employers with ERISA compliance but you should be careful when you are choosing. You should be looking for a consultant who has guaranteed experience in this area – they should be able to show you proof of some of their work. Ideally, a consultant who has been around for at least 10 years is a good idea because in that time they will have gathered the necessary experience to ensure that their clients are ERISA compliant. They also know the loopholes that the government can use to come after you and they will help you plug them.

A good consultant will be ready with advice and play a preventative rather than a curative role, helping you make sure that you have complied with all federal requirements.

Once you hire an ERISA consultant like us you will be doing to ensure that your employees get their benefits as required by law.

Are You ERISA Complaint? Hire a Consultant Like Us.

 

by BC2

Wrap Plan Document Preparation Assistance and Support

More and more employers are now choosing to get wrap plan document preparation assistance, which means that wrap plan document preparation at this time is more important than ever before. Employers that offer a lot of health benefits and benefits in general to their employees will often have a difficult time explaining everything that has been outlined in those benefits packages. Offering benefits to employees can be a complex process. An official wrap plan document brings all of the associated contracts and group insurance policies together, so there will be only one plan for employers and employees to examine. In many cases, the resultant plan will include information about health reimbursement, medical benefits, cafeteria access, dental benefits, and the vision benefits that an employer might offer.

The administrative process associated with employee benefits packages can certainly be complicated. When employers are able to use a wrap plan instead, they will be able to save time and money. Their employees will also have an easier time learning about their benefits packages, making them feel more secure and giving them the chance to understand everything associated with a particular job.

We at BC2 are wrap plan document preparation experts.

It should be noted that wrap plan documents typically contain more information than most insurance documents. Employers and employees will not find themselves doing research on their own in order to fully understand some of the employee benefits policies. Wrap plan documents manage to be both simple and detailed at the same time, which is a great balance to strike.

There is a lot of information that ERISA wants that is not always included in some insurance documents, or at least not thoroughly included. Issues like that are less likely to happen when wrap plan documents are prepared. Employers will avoid a lot of different problems this way. Employees will also have an easier time planning for their own futures in the process.

Putting together a wrap plan document initially can require some care, obviously. Employers have to avoid making errors at this stage. Making mistakes at this stage can be serious, and making mistakes at any other stage in this process can be just as problematic. Getting professional assistance with the whole wrap plan document preparation process can make all the difference in the world for the employers who are trying to make sure that everything goes smoothly and successfully. Our organization would be happy to help companies with this stage.

There are different types of wrap plan documents. We can help different clients decide on the wrap plan document that is going to really work for them and meet the needs of their organization. Different welfare and health plans have different structures. We have plenty of different templates for wrap plan documents, and we should be able to find a template that will work perfectly for your company, given the structure of your welfare and health plan. You’ll have an easier time analyzing those health and welfare plans, and this will also be the case for your employees.

wrap plan document preparation assistanceGetting assistance with the wrap plan document preparation process can already make everything better for the people involved. However, it’s important to remember that this is something of an ongoing process to a certain extent. A wrap plan document is not necessarily a finished product. It might be a functionally finished product for a year or so, but many things can change in a year.

Wrap plan documents will have to be revised once a year in a lot of cases, since the laws involved will change. In some cases, employers will also update the benefits packages that they offer their employees in the first place, and they will have to adjust their wrap plan documents accordingly. We will certainly be available to help at those moments as well, making it easier for employers to adapt when necessary. Employees will also have an easier time adapting to the changes to their benefits packages, since these might occur each year.

Getting wrap plan documents is going to become more common over the next few years, since more and more employers are now realizing that there are lots of benefits associated with them. Some employees are going to come to expect them. Employees tend to change jobs relatively frequently these days, and this means that they will have a lot of experience with different workplaces. Many of them will expect there to be wrap plan documents, and employers will find that many of their competitors will use them. It makes sense to start planning your wrap plan document as soon as possible.

Learn even more about wrap plan document preparation assistance