How To
Protect Your Employees When Purchasing Health Insurance - A fact sheet
with tips employers can use when comparing benefits and costs of
multiple insurance products.
What To Do If Your Health Coverage
Can No Longer Pay Benefits - This fact sheet provides basic information
regarding options consumers may have if health coverage can no longer pay
benefits because of insolvency or fraud, causing the plan to file for
bankruptcy or to go out of business.
Multiple
Employer Welfare Arrangements Under ERISA (MEWA) - A
booklet addressing many questions concerning the effect of
ERISA on federal and state regulation of MEWAs.
MEWA Enforcement - The
Labor Department has devoted significant resources to investigating and
litigating issues connected with abusive MEWAs who sell the promise of
inexpensive health benefit insurance, but default on their
obligations. Particular emphasis has been put on identifying ongoing
abusive and fradulent MEWAs and working to shut down such operations.
Procedures
for Administrative Hearings Regarding Plans Established or Maintained
Pursuant to Collective Bargaining Agreements Under Section 3(40)(A) of ERISA
- These regulations are intended to assist labor organizations, plan
sponsors and state insurance departments in determining whether a plan is a
``multiple employer welfare arrangement'' within the meaning of section
3(40) of ERISA.
The Form
M-1 Online Filing System is an electronic filing system for the Form M-1 annual report for multiple
employer welfare arrangements. The system
allows filers to complete the form and submit it at no
cost. This system is an example of an E-Government initiative which uses improved
technology to make it easier for citizens and businesses to
interact with the government.
The ERISA Public Disclosure System
is an internet-based application designed to facilitate the search and
retrieval of Form M-1 filings. The Form M-1 is filed annually by MEWAs
(Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements) and ECEs (Entities Claiming
Exception). Users can search by plan name, sponsor name, employer
identification number (EIN), or the state of the MEWA headquarters or
where coverage is offered by entering data in one or more fields. The
search is most effective when data is entered into several fields. For
more information and instructions on how to use the ERISA Public Disclosure System for
the Form M-1 filings, at the bottom of the Form M-1 Search page, select EPDS User Manual.
Copies of the Form M-1 filings are also available from EBSA’s Public
Disclosure Room at 200 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room N-1513,
Washington, DC 20210, or by calling 202.693.8673.
National
Association of Insurance Commissioners - The NAIC Web site will help you
find out information about the regulation of health insurance providers in
your state.
U.S. Department of Labor obtains order requiring restoration of more than $500,000 to Georgia Plumbers Trade Association Health Plan 08-58-ATL [01/18/08]
U.S. Labor Department resolves unpaid health claims of participants covered by Mississippi State Medical Association plan [08/16/07]
U.S. Labor Department obtains independent fiduciary to oversee Texas health benefit plan - Claims of individuals in Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Texas, other states to be paid [05/31/07] [Consent Order]
U.S. Labor Department recovers more than $2 million to pay New Jersey benefit plan health claims [04/02/07]
U.S. Labor Department obtains consent order shutting down 'sham' health care fund based in California [03/26/07] [Consent Order]
U.S. Labor Department sues Georgia health provider and affiliates over mismanagement of plan assets [03/22/07]
Labor Department Obtains Court Order Barring Idaho Company and Executives from Service to Employee Benefit Plans [06/21/06]
U.S. Labor Department Sues California Health Benefit Fund to Recover $1.2 Million for Unpaid Health Claims [12/13/05]
U.S. Labor Department Obtains Judgment Against Sham Florida Union for Payment of $11 Million in Health Benefits [12/08/05]
U.S. Labor Department Obtains Court Order Reimbursing $1 Million to California Health Benefit Fund [12/05/05]
U.S. Labor Department Sues Former Minneapolis Executives For Health Plan Mismanagement [11/22/05]
U.S. Labor Department Obtains Order Restoring Over $4 Million to TRG Health Plan [07/21/05]
Labor Department Sues Company Hired to Service Pension and Welfare Plans of Six Chicago Area Local Unions and Employer Associations [07/06/05]
Former Plan Official Sentenced For Embezzlement From Union Health Plan [02/16/05]
U.S. Labor Department Sues President of Nashville Leasing Firm Over Misuse of Health Plan Assets [01/25/05]
Court Rules Indiana Marketing Firm and Executives Must Restore Losses to Health Plan [01/05/05]
U.S. Labor Department Obtains Court Order Reimbursing California Health Benefit Fund [12/15/04]
U.S. Labor Department Sues Plan Officials of Beverage Association Over Mismanagement of Health Plan [11/23/04]
U.S. Labor Department Removes Health Benefit Fund Trustees [09/15/04]
U.S. Labor Department Order Permanently Bans Former Leasing Firm President From Overseeing Employee Benefit Plans [08/02/04]
U.S. Labor Department Obtains a Court Order Appointing Temporary Independent Fiduciary for Purported Union Benefit Fund [05/06/04]
Court Replaces Trustees of Defunct West Hills Union Health Plan - U.S. Labor Department Investigation Reveals $7 Million in Unpaid Health Claims [05/06/04]
U.S. Labor Department Sues Former President of Leasing Firm Over Mismanagement of Health Plan [04/19/04]
Labor Department Sues Fiduciaries of Tulsa Health Arrangement Over
Excessive Fees and Misrepresentations [03/01/04]
Nevada Court Enters $7.3 Million Judgment Against Principals of
Employers Mutual [10/14/03]
Labor Department Obtains Decision Replacing Officials of New York
Union Plan - Affects Workers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey
[10/08/03]
New York Corporation and Owner Ordered to Restore $1.7 Million to
Health and Welfare Plan [10/07/03]
Labor Department Sues Principals Of Florida-Based Health Plan
Service Provider [06/24/03]
Labor Department Obtains Final Settlement of Lawsuit Against U.S.
Alliance Fiduciaries [05/21/03]
Labor Department Settles Part of Its Lawsuit With U.S. Alliance
Health Care Officials [10/25/02]
Labor Department Obtains Court Order Freezing Assets of Florida
Health Plan [10/11/02]
Labor Department Secures Temporary Restraining Order Against
Georgia Health Plan Operators [06/18/02]
Independent Fiduciary Appointed To Operate New York Health and
Welfare Plan In Consent Order Obtained By Labor Department
[05/17/02]
Nevada Court Freezes Assets of Health Associations And Principals
of Employers Mutual [02/08/02]
SAI MED Health Plan Officials Barred From Serving ERISA Plans
[01/04/02]
Labor Department Sues Trustee and Others for Diverting More Than
$2.2 Million of New York Health and Welfare Plan [12/18/01]
Labor Department Sues Nevada Associations and Principals for
Misusing Over $6 Million in Health Assets [12/13/01]
Labor Department Sues Alabama Association And Plan Official For
$4.15 Million In Fees, Commissions And Loans [10/04/01]
Labor Department Obtains Court Order Freezing Assets of Several
New York Health Providers [07/12/01]
Labor Department Seeks to Recover Over $1 Million from Defunct
Maryland Health Provider [02/06/01]
-
Federal Indictment Charges Amarillo, Texas, Woman with Healthcare
Fraud, Wire Fraud, Mail Fraud and Money Laundering [11/30/07]
-
Operator of Employers Mutual Going to Prison for 25 Years for
Operating Bogus Health Insurance Provider [02/05/07]
[Conviction
News Release]
[Arrest
News Release]
-
Attorney Sentenced For Mail Fraud Involving Health Plan Assets [06/29/06]
-
Former Durham Business Owner Sentenced for Fraud, Tax Evasion [06/15/06]
[Indictment
News Release]
[Arrest
News Release]
-
Founders of SAI Plus Health Plan Sentenced for Defrauding School
Districts and Other Businesses [06/09/06]
[Conviction
News Release]
-
Florida Man Admits Embezzling from Susses County Union; Defendant is
Stepfather of Former Party Chaiman Awaiting Trial [04/21/06]
-
Owner of Bankrupt Medical Benefits Company Sentenced to 84 Months in
Prison [04/17/06]
[Guilty
Plea News Release]
-
Indianapolis men Sentenced for $400,000 Embezzlement from Health Care
Benefit Program [10/21/05]
[Indictment
News Release]
-
Former President of Interstate Services Incorporated Sentenced to 41
Months for Health Care Fraud [06/29/05]
[Guilty
Plea News Release]
-
Former Sussex Political Party Chairman and Others Charged with
Embezzling From Union and Bankrupt Health Fund [02/23/05]
-
Former Plan Official Sentenced for Embezzlement from Union Health Plan
[02/16/05]
-
Justice Department Sues to Shut Down Alleged Fraudulent Employment-Tax
Scam; Plans Alleged To Disguise Taxable Wages As Non-Taxable
Healthcare Reimbursements [04/15/04]