Health Benefits Education Campaign

The Health Benefits Education Campaign is designed to educate participants about their rights and responsibilities under ERISA and to provide compliance assistance to health plan sponsors and their service providers.

Compliance Assistance

Health Benefits Advisor - This interactive Web site assists employers in understanding and complying with federal group health plan laws.

Seminars and Webcasts - The Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration sponsors compliance assistance seminars and webcasts designed to provide plan sponsors practical information, helpful tips, and clarification regarding state and federal health benefits laws to help them properly administer their plans. These seminars and web casts are free and open on a first come first served basis. In addition to DOL, speakers from State Insurance Departments, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Wage and Hour Division, and the Veterans’ Employment and Training Service participate and answer questions.

Why You Should Attend These Seminars - If you are an employer who is trying to comply with federal and state laws regarding your health plan, this is your chance to talk to both federal and state regulators at the same time, in the same place.  If you are a third party administrator or a carrier who has questions about new laws and issues, this is your opportunity to ask the experts.

Compliance Assistance Publications

• Compliance Assistance Guide - Health Benefits Coverage Under Federal Law [View]

• Form M-1 Online Filing System User Guide  [View]

• Group Health and Disability Plans Benefit Claims Procedure Regulation [View]

• Health Disclosure and Claims Issues: FY 2001 Compliance Project Report [View]

• MEWAs: A Guide to Federal and State Regulation  [View]

For more information see our Compliance Assistance page, Contact Us electronically, or call us toll-free at 1.866.444.EBSA (3272).

Participant Education & Assistance

Health Benefits Advisor - This interactive Web site is designed to help workers and their families understand group health benefits and the laws that govern them, especially when they experience changes in their life and work situations, such as marriage, childbirth, job loss or retirement. The advisor also assists employers in understanding and complying with the applicable laws.

Consumer Health Publications

Health care coverage is one of your most important benefits. Learning how your plan works and what laws protect you is the first step to becoming an educated health benefits consumer. These publications will assist you. To order copies of these and other publications, call EBSA's toll-free number at 1.866.444.EBSA (3272).

• An Employee's Guide to Health Benefits Under COBRA - The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 [View]

• In Brief: Can the Retiree Health Benefits Provided by Your Employer Be Cut?  [View]

• Employer Bankruptcy: How Will it Affect Your Employee Benefits?  [View]

• FAQs For Reservists Being Called To Active Duty [View]

• Filing A Claim For Your Health Or Disability Benefits [View]

• General Facts on Women and Job Based Health [View]

• How to Obtain Employee Benefit Documents from DOL  [View]

• Job Loss - Important Information Workers Need to Know to Protect their Health Coverage  [View]

• MEWAs: A Guide to Federal and State Regulation  [View]

• Pension and Health Care Coverage...Q&As for Dislocated Workers  [View]

• Protections For Newborns, Adopted Children, And New Parents [View]

• What To Do If Your Health Coverage Can No Longer Pay Benefits [View]

• Your Health Plan And HIPAA...Making The Law Work For You [View]

• Your Rights After A Mastectomy [View]

Participants who have questions about their rights and obligations under ERISA or who need assistance in obtaining their benefits can Contact Us electronically, or call an EBSA Benefits Advisor toll free at 1.866.444.EBSA (3272).