ERIC Benefits Proposal Could Realign Distribution

A task force of the ERISA Industry Committee has come out with ideas for a new health and retirement system that could affect the role of many current health insurance agents and benefits brokers.

ERIC, Washington, introduced the “new benefit platform for life security” at a press conference last week in Washington.

The group, which represents employers, insurers, banks and consultants, released a proposal that calls for the federal government to set uniform national benefits standards and to divide the United States into several uniform benefits service areas.

At least 2 large-scale “benefit administrators” would compete to sell “lifetime security plans” to employers and individuals in each region, according to an outline of the ERIC task force proposal posted on the ERIC website.

“These administrators, who would be trusted intermediaries, must have significant expertise in designing, delivering, and managing retirement and other financial benefits, as well as health plans,” the task force members write in the proposal. “Benefit administrators could be direct providers or assemblers of affiliated providers. Examples might include banks, mutual fund/investment companies, insurers, health plans, or new “platform” administrators.”