Open Enrollment – Renewal Checklist

The compliance landscape for health and welfare benefit plans continued to evolve throughout 2026. As the year winds down, this webinar will recap the most impactful regulatory developments and compliance changes from 2026 and what they mean for employers. We’ll also preview what’s ahead in 2027, including anticipated rules, deadlines, and trends that could shape benefit planning.

Attending the IRMI Construction Risk Conference in Washington, DC? Don't miss your chance to unwind and connect with fellow industry professionals at an exclusive evening hosted by Cottingham & Butler, Guignard and Watt Tieder.

When employees request mid-year benefit changes, the rules aren’t always straightforward. In this session, we’ll examine the interaction between HIPAA special enrollment rights and Section 125 cafeteria plan election change rules, highlighting when changes must be permitted—and when they may be restricted. We’ll also explore key differences between requests to add coverage versus drop coverage mid-plan year, helping employers administer changes consistently and compliantly.

According to NATMI, recipients who enrolled in a NATMI training and certification lowered their organization's accident rate by 86%, achieved a lower occupational injury rate by 83%, and controlled costs associated with accident litigation by 100%. The cost of participating in NATMI is minimal compared to the company’s day-to-day operational savings. The Certified Director of Safety (CDS)/Certified Safety Supervisor (CSS) course is designed to help safety personnel attain a greater professional knowledge base that should, in turn, provide greater confidence to improve operations, prevent and control injury and damage, as well as the ability to provide strong representation such as during a court case.

COBRA and state continuation coverage requirements remain a critical compliance area for employers. This webinar will review federal COBRA obligations, including qualifying events, election procedures, notice requirements, and premium administration. We’ll also examine how state continuation laws differ from—and interact with—federal COBRA, helping employers navigate overlapping requirements and reduce compliance risk.

Open enrollment season comes with a long to-do list — this webinar helps you work through it with confidence. We'll walk through key tasks from plan review and employee communications to system updates and post-enrollment audits, plus a regulatory and legislative update on recent changes that may impact your 2027 offerings and year-end compliance items to help you close out the year strong.