25 Dec Association Health Plans Meet the 2018 Form M-1
Posted at 10:00h
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Did you know: If you’re trying to create an Association Health Plan (AHP), you must register using a Form M-1 at least 30 days before engaging in any AHP activity. Read on to learn more.
The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is continuing to do what it can to help bring the new class of association health plans (AHPs) to life.
EBSA, an arm of the U.S. Department of Labor, unveiled the 2018 version of the Form M-1 Monday.
Administrators of multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) that provide medical benefits use Form M-1 to report on the MEWAs’ operations to the DOL.
The administration of President Donald Trump completed work on major new AHP regulations in June. The administration is hoping small employers will use the new AHPs to shield themselves from some state and federal mandates and to get a chance to benefit from being part of a large coverage buyer.
Any AHPs out there, including any AHPs formed under the new regulations, will need to file the 2018 Form M-1 with the Labor Department, EBSA said Monday.
An AHP, or other MEWA, can use Form M-1 both to register a new plan and to file the annual report for an in-force plan.
The 2018 annual report for an AHP or other MEWA in operation now will be due March 1, 2019.
If agents, brokers, benefit plan administrators or other financial professionals are trying to start AHPs, they are supposed to use Form M-1 to register the AHPs at least 30 days before engaging in any AHP activity.
“Such activities include, but are not limited to, marketing, soliciting, providing, or offering to provide medical care benefits to employers or employees who may participate in the AHP,” EBSA officials said in the form release announcement.
Resources
Links to AHP information, including information about the 2018 Form M-1, are available here.
SOURCE: Bell, A. (4 December 2018) “Association Health Plans Meet the 2018 Form M-1” (Web Blog Post). Retrieved from https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2018/12/04/association-health-plans-meet-the-2018-form-m-1/