Please note: As of January 20, 2021, information in some news releases may be out of date or not reflect current policies.
News Release
Labor Department Announces Electronic Access To Health Filings on MEWAs
Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.
Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today announced that Form M-1 annual report filings of multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) are now available electronically through the agency’s Web site. Previously, the filings were available to the public only in paper form.
Assistant Secretary of Labor Ann L. Combs said, “With the cost of health care rising, promoters of health insurance scams are aggressively targeting small businesses and their employees. We hope that employers first check to see if the MEWA has filed with the department when they consider obtaining health care coverage through one of these arrangements. Electronic access to these filings will provide a useful tool to employers as they make decisions to select legitimate health care arrangements and avoid fraudulent operators.”
This disclosure tool also will give state insurance departments who share jurisdiction over MEWAs with the department timely access to important information for identifying fraudulent health plans.
The Labor Department has authority under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act to require MEWAs to submit Form M-1 reports annually. MEWAs provide health and welfare benefits to employees of two or more employers.
Since the department began requiring MEWAs to file annual reports, approximately 2,700 M-1 reports have been filed. Users will be able to search the database through a number of ways, including by name of the MEWA, location of the MEWA’s headquarters, and geographical area where coverage is offered.
The new system is available on the EBSA Web site at www.dol.gov/ebsa under Forms and Document Requests. For additional tips on avoiding health insurance fraud, see EBSA’s Web site under “Focus on Health Care Fraud.”
U.S. Department of Labor news releases are accessible on the Internet. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format upon request (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the Central Office for Assistive Services and Technology. Please specify which news release when placing your request. Call 202.693.7773 or TTY 202.693.7755.
Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.