Course Description
There are many instances where group health plans mistakenly cover dependents that are no longer eligible for the plan.
Although in some instances - such as a divorce - it is easy to catch, there are a variety of other examples that are not so easy.
For instance, a 19 year old going to college may, under a lot of plans, be dropped from coverage (and offered COBRA, if applicable) if they do not maintain "full time" college status (which could be defined as anywhere between 9 and 15 semester credits).
Along these lines:
- Are your employees erroneously enrolling individuals who may not meet the plan's definition of a "dependent"
- Is your plan’s definition too broad?
- Is it consistent with industry standards?
- Do you know if your definition of "dependent" satisfies the IRS definition for purposes of tax-free healthcare?
- Do you, as an employer/plan sponsor, have to allow coverage of certain dependents based upon recent rulings?
Learning ObjectivesThis audio conference will help you determine if you should conduct an audit of the dependents your plan covers.
Join noted speaker and employee benefits expert Ashley Gillihan, who will present practical advice to pressing questions at this 90-minute interactive audio conference that covers:
- What is the best way to conduct an audit without running into legal trouble?
- What are the questions to avoid and how do you determine dependent status?
- What is the interaction between tax dependents under the Internal Revenue Code and dependents eligible for coverage under a welfare benefit plan? Under what circumstances is coverage for a dependent taxable?
- Must you cover all dependents based upon recent changes to the regulations?
- How do recent changes in state law affect your plan?
- What obligations do employers have to verify dependent status of an individual enrolled in a welfare plan?
- Do you need to make changes to your welfare plan?
- Will healthcare reform change coverage of dependents?
Attendees Who Will Benefit From This Audio Conference Include:
- Employee Benefits Professionals
- Plan Administrators
- Third Party Administrators (TPAs)
- Human Resources Managers who oversee employee benefit plans
- Corporate Counsel
- Actuaries for Retirement Plans
- Anyone who works on cafeteria plans and plan administration
About Your SpeakerAshley Gillihan is a Partner with Alston & Bird, LLP, and a member of their Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group. He is also a secondary member of the firm’s ERISA Litigation Group.
Mr. Gillihan's practice focuses exclusively on health and welfare benefit plan matters. He advises clients on various issues including but not limited to, ERISA matters such as fiduciary duty, reporting and disclosure, COBRA matters, tax qualification matters related to fringe benefit programs and VEBAs, benefit matters arising under the ADA and ADEA, and HIPAA portable and privacy issues.
Mr. Gillihan lectures frequently and has published numerous articles on health and welfare benefit plan related topics. Mr. Gillihan is also a member of the Advisory Board of Editors of the Benefits Compensation Law Alert and the Employer’s Council on Flexible Compensation Technical Advisory Council.