Benefits Service Runs All Year, Not Just at Renewal.
The renewal is one day in a twelve-month plan year. This is how we organize the other months: preparing, deciding, enrolling, checking in and reporting, so nothing arrives as a surprise. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
The Plan Year in Five Phases.
Each phase has a clear purpose and an owner on your service team.
1. Prepare
Gather the renewal, bills, enrollment and plan documents, and set the baseline we measure against.
2. Decide
Read the renewal, decide whether to go to market, and put the choices in writing before anything changes.
3. Enroll
Run open enrollment: communications, employee questions, and clean eligibility files to carriers.
4. Check In
Review claims and enrollment mid-year, and catch compliance gaps before year end.
5. Report
Handle the filings, notices and reporting the plan owes, then start the next cycle.
Guides for Each Phase.
Each phase links to a guide with the details.
How DATUM Works
Our method for setting a baseline and reading a renewal.
When to Go to Market
Why the decision to market is part of the advice.
Open Enrollment
How we run the enrollment window.
Mid-Year Compliance Check-In
A checkpoint to catch gaps before year end.
Michigan Compliance Calendar
Federal and state deadlines in one place.
ACA Reporting Deadlines 2027
Filing and furnishing dates for the coming season.
A Team Through Every Phase.
Employees with questions in any month can reach our service team or chat assistant.
Related pages.
A Compliance Calendar for Your Plan Year
The dated filings, notices and deadlines an employer plan runs on.
Open Enrollment
How we build and run open enrollment.
ACA Reporting for Employers
Who must file Forms 1094-C and 1095-C, and when.
COBRA Law: Notices, Deadlines and Coverage Periods
The notices employers owe and the timelines that apply.
Federal Policy Tracker
Every federal benefits law we cover, grouped by what it asks of an employer.
Michigan Employer Benefit Laws
The Michigan laws that reach employer benefit plans.
Putting owners and dates on each phase.
The calendar works when it is shared. For each phase, list the key tasks, the person responsible and the date by which the task should be finished. Share it across HR, finance and leadership at the start of the plan year so no one is surprised when a deadline arrives.
The phases also catch the work that falls between renewals. Mid-year check-ins find enrollment errors and compliance gaps before they grow, and the reporting phase reminds you of the filings that come after the plan year ends. Dates differ by plan, size and state, so confirm the specifics with your advisor or counsel.
Quick Answers.
Short answers to what employers ask most. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.
When should renewal preparation start?
Early enough to review the renewal, decide whether to market the plan and still leave time for enrollment. We build the timeline back from your effective date.
What happens between renewal and open enrollment?
We review the plan’s performance, prepare employee communications and keep eligibility records clean so enrollment runs smoothly.
Do you help after open enrollment ends?
Yes. We answer employee questions, handle changes and run a mid-year check-in so issues surface before they become problems.
Where can I see the compliance dates?
Our Michigan compliance calendar and ACA reporting deadlines guide list the dates employers track.
Who should own the plan-year calendar?
Usually one person in HR or finance, supported by your advisor. The key is to have a single list that everyone can see.
How far ahead should we plan?
Start the renewal phase several months before the plan year ends, and place later phases on the calendar once the plan year begins.
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