Post–Open Enrollment & New Plan Year Compliance: The Hidden Risks Employers Miss

Description:

Most employers assume that once open enrollment ends, the heavy lift is behind them. The reality is the highest compliance and financial risk actually occurs in the first 60–90 days of a new plan year. Misclassified employees, overlooked ALE status, late notices, or other early-year oversights can trigger costly fines, employee disputes, or unexpected ACA-related budget impacts.

In this session, we will challenge the traditional view of “OE as the finish line” and show why early-year oversight can cascade into compliance and financial issues if left unmanaged. We’ll unpack the blind spots even seasoned HR and finance teams often miss and introduce a proactive framework that keeps organizations ahead of regulatory requirements and budget surprises.

What you’ll learn:

• The Importance of Taking Stock and Learning from Mistakes
• Good Compliance Hygiene After Open Enrollment is Done
• Catching Problems Early and Averting Disasters Before They Happen
• Documentation, Recordkeeping, and Planning for the Worst
• Updating SPDs and Furnishing Post-enrollment Notices
• Looking Ahead and Upcoming Deadlines

Walk away with a sharper understanding of the true compliance risk cycle, how it intersects with ACA financial exposure, and a clear, guided roadmap to confidently navigate the new plan year.

Speaker:

Tom Seltz

• Compliance Consultant, Benefits Compliance Solutions (BCS)

Tom brings over 30 years of experience in health and welfare benefits and compliance, with expertise in ERISA, the Affordable Care Act, HIPAA, COBRA, and more. His career has included work as a Legislative Specialist for a national health insurer, a Technical Analyst for a leading disability carrier, and 8 years as Life & Health Producer in Washington, DC. For over a decade prior to joining BCS, he built and oversaw a health & welfare regulatory compliance practice at a large and rapidly growing insurance brokerage. Tom is known for simplifying the complex and making the inscrutable clear. With patience, good humor, and a teacher’s mindset, he helps brokers and employers break down problems into solvable units, building lasting relationships along the way. Married and the father of two, Tom is also an amateur playwright, mixologist, musician, and avid film-goer. He loves travel, good food, and making friends.