Preparing for open enrollment, employers should review plan documents to confirm what that the 2020 required changes are included. Group health plan sponsors need to be aware of the legal changes that affect the design and administration of plans that begin on or after January 1st, 2020.
An updated summary plan description (SPD) or summary of material modifications (SMM) should be communicated to plan participants for any changes to the 2020 health plan's benefits.
Health plan sponsors should also confirm that their open enrollment materials contain certain required participant notices, when applicable—for example, the summary of benefits and coverage (SBC). There are also some participant notices that must be provided annually or upon initial enrollment. To minimize costs and streamline administration, employers should consider including these notices in their open enrollment materials.