Certain notices must be distributed around open enrollment.
A company’s open enrollment period can be a hectic time for management, human resources and employees alike. However, during the enrollment process, employers should remember their disclosure obligations. Below are five key notices that must be distributed to employees around the open enrollment period:
- Summary Plan Description (SPD): An SPD must generally be distributed to group health plan participants within 90 days after the employee becomes a plan participant.
- Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC): An SBC must generally be provided to group health plan participants and beneficiaries before initial enrollment in, or upon renewal of, plan coverage.
- Employer CHIP Notice: The Employer CHIP Notice must be provided to all employees that reside in states with group health plan premium assistance, annually before the start of each plan year.
- Notice of Special Enrollment Rights: This notice must be provided to all employees eligible to enroll in the employer’s group health plan, at or before the time the employee is initially offered the opportunity to enroll.
- Medicare Part D Creditable or Non-Creditable Coverage Notice: This notice must generally be distributed before Oct. 15 to all Medicare-eligible individuals who are offered prescription drug coverage under the employer’s group health plan.
Note: Additional notice requirements may apply depending on the particular features of the group health plan.
For more information on the different notices or if you are interested in looking into benefits for your practice, please email [email protected] or call 800-637-4676.