No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes a Benefits Assistance Program within the Employee Benefits Security Administration of the Department of Labor by January 1, 2027, to improve access to benefits under employee welfare benefit plans. The Program receives and resolves inquiries and complaints from participants, beneficiaries, and providers on adverse benefit determinations and plan or ERISA violations; assists with appeals and external reviews; makes enforcement referrals; trains Department staff; and reports results to referring state consumer assistance offices. The Secretary must submit an annual report to the House Committee on Education and Workforce and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions detailing inquiries, assistance provided, claim amounts, program costs, referrals, recoveries, processing times, and recommendations.
This section requires administrators of single-employer employee welfare benefit plans to pay the Secretary of Labor a filing fee when submitting an annual report or notice after January 1, 2027. The fee is $250 for plans with fewer than 100 participants, $500 for plans with 100 to 499 participants, and at least $1,000 for all other plans; the Secretary may set higher fees by regulation that increase with participant count. Fees may not be paid with plan assets and must be used for ERISA title I enforcement and the Benefits Assistance Program, with at least 50 percent allocated to the Program.
This section requires administrators of single-employer welfare benefit plans exempt from annual reporting to file a notice with the Secretary containing the employer name, number of covered employees, aggregate benefits provided, funding method and any health insurance issuers, and service providers receiving $5,000 or more in compensation, for plan years ending after January 1, 2027.