Medical, Welfare, & Fringe Benefits

Medical and welfare benefit plans are critical benefits for attracting and retaining employees. These plans are, however, governed by a dizzying set of rules and compliance challenges. Our team makes these rules easy to understand and provides practical advice to ensure these plans remain in compliance. We are focused on helping ensure your plan remains a benefit that adds value to the business by assisting the company with all aspects of the plan, including:

• Assisting you with understanding and meeting fiduciary responsibilities, including accurate communication of benefits
• Understanding the intricate rules of the Affordable Care Act and the company’s options within that framework
• Assisting with the selection or expansion of plan options and features, such as Health Reimbursement Arrangements, wellness programs, and Health Savings Accounts
• Complying with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, including both privacy and security provisions
• Developing administrative procedures to comply with COBRA
• Maintaining compliance with other federal laws, including non-discrimination rules
• Designing benefits to achieve strategic goals of the company and/or its owners
• Creating cutting edge designs to create a competitive advantage, such as wellness incentives and on-site clinics and use of employee claims data to drive better health plan outcomes
• Providing practical advice on plan administration to avoid plan errors
• Creating fringe benefit programs
• Correct reporting of health coverage to avoid Affordable Care Act penalty assessments

Even the most diligently administered plan may encounter errors in plan administration or come under scrutiny by a regulatory agency. These times naturally create anxiety and increase the potential cost of the plan. Our strength lies in providing clear, understandable, and practical advice to help our clients to efficiently resolve any situations that do arise, including:

• Correcting plan documentation or operational errors
• Reporting errors and IRS assessments
• Affordable Care Act penalty assessments
• Internal Revenue Service audits
• Department of Labor investigations
• Excise tax determination and assessments
• Prohibited transaction determination and assessments
• Responding to participant inquiries and claims

Areas in which we can help you add value to your health and welfare plans and communications:  
Section 125 Cafeteria plans; medical, dental, and vision plans; Health Savings Accounts; Health Reimbursement Arrangements (including the new Qualified Small Employer HRAs and Individual Coverage HRAs); Flexible Spending Accounts; and group insurance, wrap plans, and fringe benefits.

Common administrative forms/participant notices we assist with: Summary of Benefits Coverage, plan summaries, COBRA notices, privacy practices, privacy notices, benefit election change forms, open enrollment forms, and claims responses.