Your Group Health Plan Might Be Illegal—and the Feds Are Watching
Your Group Health Plan Might Be Illegal—and the Feds Are Watching
Let’s cut through the polite compliance talk. If you’re an employer running a group health plan, there’s a good chance you’re sitting on a ticking time bomb. The federal government has cracked down on health plan compliance, and sloppy administration can now mean huge fines, lawsuits, or even criminal exposure.
Jackson Health Advisors is on the front lines with employers across Indianapolis, Springfield, MO, and Bozeman, MT—and we’re seeing too many companies betting the business on outdated or mismanaged group health plans.
This isn’t scare talk. It’s reality. And you need to hear it.
Why Group Health Plans Are Getting Hammered
Regulators aren’t just sniffing around anymore. They’re on the hunt. Why? Group health plans are complicated, expensive, and too often riddled with errors. Between ERISA, the ACA, HIPAA, COBRA, and IRS rules, there are dozens of ways to screw this up—and they all come with teeth.
Common violations include:
- Failing to provide a Summary Plan Description (SPD)
- Improper handling of COBRA notifications
- Not complying with nondiscrimination rules
- Neglecting ACA reporting or affordability standards
- Violating mental health parity laws
Every one of those can trigger audits, penalties, and lawsuits. And if you’re a business in Springfield, Bozeman, or Indianapolis, don’t assume you’re too small to get noticed. Small and mid-size companies are increasingly in the crosshairs.
What’s Really at Stake?
Let’s talk numbers…
- ACA Reporting Penalties: Up to $310 per form, per employee, per year.
- COBRA Failures: $100/day per violation (per employee and qualified beneficiary).
- SPD Violations: $110/day per participant if not provided upon request.
- Mental Health Parity Violations: Subject to full DOL audit and plan restructuring.
This is money straight off your books—and in many cases, it’s just the start. Regulators talk to each other. One red flag often leads to a full compliance dig.
Warning Signs Your Plan Isn’t Compliant
Think you’re fine? These red flags say otherwise:
- You haven’t reviewed your plan documents in over a year.
- Your broker “handles everything,” but you’ve never seen a compliance checklist.
- You rely on a PEO or TPA, but no one audits their work.
- You don’t have an SPD or it’s buried in a PDF from 2016.
- You’ve had staff turnover and don’t know if COBRA was correctly offered.
Sound familiar? That’s where Jackson Health Advisors comes in.
How We Lock Down Health Plan Compliance
We don’t sugarcoat it—and we don’t just hand you a binder and wish you luck. We help employers in Bozeman, Springfield, and Indianapolis get their house in order, fast:
- Custom Plan Document Audits
- COBRA Process Reviews & Training
- SPD & Wrap Document Drafting
- ACA Affordability Testing & 1095 Filing
- Mental Health Parity Compliance Checks
You’ll know exactly where you stand—and what needs fixing.
The Cost of Doing Nothing
Hope is not a strategy. And if you’re still operating on trust and assumptions, the clock is ticking. A DOL audit isn’t a matter of if—it’s when.
Your competitors aren’t waiting. Employers across Indiana, Missouri, and Montana are tightening up benefits compliance with Jackson Health Advisors. Because in a regulatory environment like this, smart businesses protect their flank.
Get Compliant. Stay Compliant. Sleep Better.
Jackson Health Advisors brings grit, precision, and straight talk to employer compliance. We know the landscape. We know the regulators. And we know how to keep your company safe without killing your benefits strategy.
You don’t have to go alone if you’re in Bozeman, Springfield, or Indianapolis. Reach out today. We’ll tear into your plan, fix what’s broken, and give you the kind of peace of mind you can actually take to the bank.