14 Apr Fear of the DOL health plan audit
Originally posted by Craig Davidson on March 07, 2014 on https://eba.benefitnews.com
Perhaps you have heard that the DOL expressed its goal to audit all employee benefit plans by the end of 2015. A daunting task, yes, but most agree the task is logistically impossible. Game on at the DOL means game on for employers. Are you prepared for a DOL audit? Are you prepared for the work that is involved and the fines for non-compliance?
A health and welfare plan audit is a review of documents and other plan materials to ensure plan sponsors comply with federal law by holding the correct documents and administering those documents consistent with federal laws and regulations. A health plan auditor looks at many things, each with a nod toward compliance or a menu of fines for non-compliance. Following is a list of items examined from actual DOL audits:
- Plan documents for each plan along with any amendments. (Content in all plan documents must comply with ERISA regulations.)
- Trust agreement (if any) and all amendments.
- Current SPDs.
- Form 5500 and accompanying schedules for most recent plan year and previous three years.
- Listing of all current service providers and those from the past three years.
- All current contracts with administrative service providers on the plan and most current fee schedules.
- All insurance contracts between plan and service providers.
- Name, address and telephone number of plan administrator.
- Sample HIPAA certificate of creditable coverage and proof of compliance with on-time issuance of COBRA notices.
- Notice of special enrollment rights and record of dates when notice was distributed to employees.
- Written eligibility criteria for plan enrollment.
- Documentation regarding all mandatory employee notices, i.e., ERISA Statement of rights, Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act notice, etc.
- Copy of most recent monthly bill for premiums (if any) from insurance carrier(s).
- Copy of check, wire transfer or other method of payment for insurance premium (if any).
- Enrollment form(s) for the plan.
- Employee handbook (if any).
- All documentation of claim adjudication and payment procedures.
- Fidelity bond (if any).
Fines
Employers fear DOL audits because noncompliance equals fines. ERISA’s reporting and disclosure requirements, for instance, carry a fine of $110 per day, per person, per violation for every plan participant who was covered under a single contract. That fine jumps to $200 for plan participants covered by a family contract. ERISA fines represent just one flag from the DOL auditor and can cost the plan sponsor dearly. Most fines for noncompliance under the ACA are not tax-deductible, either.
Now is a wise time to prepare given this current season when the DOL wants to play hardball.
Let us show you how we can offer you the protection and support you need if the DOL slaps an audit on your company.