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Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (MEWAs) & Associated Health Plans (AHPs)

A multiple employer welfare arrangement (MEWA) is an employee welfare benefit plan, or any other arrangement which is established or maintained for the purpose of offering or providing any benefit to employees of two or more employers as defined in section 3 of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 29 U.S.C. section 1002, paragraph 40.   Association health plans (AHPs) are a type of MEWA but are not currently federally permitted.
 
Self-insured MEWAs and fully insured MEWAs must comply with Iowa Administrative Code rule 191.77 and be certified with the Iowa Insurance Division prior to operation in the State of Iowa.  Iowa Code 507A.4(9) has additional detail for self-insured MEWAs.
 

Certification and Application Submission Requirements

Fully Insured MEWA

Self-Insured MEWA

Certification as an AHP is currently not federally permitted.

All applications should be submitted through SERFF.

 

Annual Reporting Requirements

Fully Insured MEWA:   Annually, on or before the first day of March, a fully insured MEWA shall file a certificate of compliance, which shall be signed and dated by the fully insured MEWA’s authorized representative and shall certify all of the following:

a. That the fully insured MEWA meets the requirements of IAC 191-77.4 and other applicable provisions of Iowa statutes and regulations; and

b. That the fully insured MEWA has contracted with an insurer authorized to engage in the business of insurance in this State or with a third-party administrator that holds a current certificate of registration issued by the commissioner pursuant to Iowa Code section 510.21.

The Annual Report should be submitted to andria.seip@iid.iowa.gov and paula.wallin@iid.iowa.gov.

Self-Insured MEWA:  Annual reporting requirements for a self-insured MEWA are available at IAC 191-77.3(4).

Further questions relating to MEWAs or AHPs may be directed here.  Please select 'Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangements (MEWAs)' from the dropdown menu. 

 

Contact Us

If you need assistance, please contact the Iowa Insurance Division.