Advanced Topics in Group Benefits

This program will survey Social Insurance programs, including Social Security, that are important in the employee benefits marketplace. Social benefits account for nearly one-quarter of the dollars employers spend on employee benefits. For some employees, the social insurance benefits serve as the foundation for the employee's benefits program; for other employees, the social insurance benefits may be their only benefits.

 Learning Objectives:

• Understanding the types of welfare benefit plans that are subject to ERISA and the parties involved
• Understanding ERISA plan documents and specifics addressed in the required documents and how ERISA affects claims procedures
• Understand who ERISA fiduciaries are
• Understanding the roles of the federal and state governments in Medicaid programs
• Understanding the eligibility requirements for Medicaid and the scope of services
• Understanding the relationship between Medicare and Medicaid
• Understanding the process of underwriting and its importance to group insurance rates and how premium rates are calculated and used to determine group insurance premiums
• Understanding the process of using experience rating to calculate premiums
• Understand the reasons why social insurance exists and what are the basic features
• The extent of Social coverage and how programs are financed
• The types of benefits available under Social Security and benefit eligibility
• Social Security federal tax laws apply, and Medicare contributions.