About the Course
This course covers advanced topics related to group benefits, including ERISA, Medicaid, and Social Security. NABIP has created this course to educate professionals about advanced group benefits topics.
ERISA is a major federal legislation which widely affects the employee benefits marketplace. It defines an employee welfare benefit plan and the communication and transparency requirements that must be met in order to be compliant with the law. It also defined a fiduciary and established the fiduciary’s role in an ERISA plan. ERISA also established rules around plan discrimination, benefit plan claims procedures, required plan reporting, and the appropriate handling of plan assets.
Medicaid is a federal and state government program that pays for medical assistance for certain individuals and families with low incomes and resources. Medicaid enrollment has grown significantly due to the Affordable Care Act’s guidelines. Medicaid is a highly visible alternative to medical care that is available through the state health insurance exchanges.
In addition to covering the topics on Medicaid and ERISA, this course will explore underwriting and the processes of evaluating an insurance applicant, making decisions about the applicant’s acceptability for insurance coverage, and determining the appropriate basis on which to determine the price for the coverage. The agent or broker needs to understand the pricing and underwriting process, as this is the process which determines the competitive status of his/her proposal for the client.
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 that employers spend on benefits for their employees. For some employees, the social insurance benefits serve as the foundation for the employee’s benefit program; for other employees, the social insurance benefits may be the only benefits they have.
Course Highlights
- 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 are ERISA fiduciaries
- Understanding the roles of the federal and state governments in Medicaid programs
- Understanding the eligibility requirements for Medicaid and 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
Continuing Education Credits
The Advanced Topics in Group Benefits course has been filed for continuing education credits in all 50 states. Please check your state’s CE approval status and rules prior to purchasing the course.
Online Cost
The cost of the Advanced Topics in Group Benefits course is $495 for members and $645 for non-members (refund policy and privacy policy), which includes online instruction in 4 webinar modules, a final exam and continuing education credits.
Discounts are offered to NABIP Corporate Partners and company groups over 25. Please contact professionaldevelopment@nabip.org for a quote.
Classroom Cost
Online Format
Course instruction will be delivered through NABIP's Online Learning Institute. For everything you need to know from creating an account to purchasing and accessing your course to taking the final exam, click here to access the user guide.
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REBC® Designation Requirement
The NABIP Advanced Topics in Group Benefits course is a requirement of the Registered Employee Benefits Consultant® designation. Earning the REBC designation elevates your credibility as a professional and prepares you to best serve your clients. By completing the NABIP Advanced Topics in Group Benefits course you will be one step closer to obtaining the designation. Click here to access more information about the REBC designation, including the learning objectives and curriculum.
Classroom Format
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