Employee Benefits Academy Webinar Series – Voluntary Benefits Under the Microscope: Litigation Risks and DOL Audit Readiness
Join us for a timely webinar addressing two key topics: emerging litigation trends involving voluntary benefits and practical steps for preparing health and welfare plans for a US Department of Labor audit.
Recent proposed ERISA class actions involving voluntary benefits—such as critical illness, accident, and hospital indemnity coverage—have placed renewed focus on employer involvement, broker compensation, plan governance, and the limits of the Department of Labor’s voluntary-plan safe harbor. These cases raise important questions about whether voluntary benefit arrangements are subject to ERISA and, if so, what fiduciary and compliance responsibilities may follow.
During this program, we will discuss:
- Developing litigation trends involving voluntary benefit offerings and insurance broker commissions
- Key considerations in evaluating whether an arrangement falls within the DOL’s voluntary-plan safe harbor
- Employer and plan sponsor actions that may affect ERISA-plan status and related fiduciary exposure
- Practical governance and documentation considerations for voluntary benefit programs
- How to prepare health and welfare plans for a DOL audit
- Steps to strengthen audit readiness, including a review of the required SPD content, plan documentation, operational practices, vendor oversight, and recordkeeping
PRESENTERS
- Jessica Agostinho, Partner
- Rob Cipolla, Partner
- Michelle Lewis, Partner
Who Should Attend: This webinar is designed for HR, benefits, legal, finance, and compliance professionals with responsibility for health and welfare plan oversight.
Continued Education Credit Information
If you are seeking credit, please complete the following during the webinar:
CLE: Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP will seek CLE credit for this program in CA, FL, GA, NC, NY, TX, and VA. Credit hours are not guaranteed and are subject to each state’s approval rules.
CPE: 1.0 credit hours (TX)
