Public Act 152 for authorities and boards: what a small public body should know
A transit authority, library board or water district may be covered by the state cap. Here is how a small board approaches the election and the vote.
Six Parts of the Board Decision.
Public Act 152 Explained
The cap explained from the start.
The Contribution Act for Employers
The statute behind it.
Public Act 152 Calculator
Compare the cap methods for a small body.
School District Benefits
A related public employer under the same rules.
Student Loan Forgiveness for Public Employers
A recruiting tool for public bodies.
Michigan Public Employer Benefits
The full public employer section.
Questions From Authority Boards.
Plain answers for HR, finance and deal teams.
Does a Small Authority Have to Follow the Cap?
Many public bodies with medical coverage do, but coverage depends on how the body is organized, so confirm with counsel.
Who Makes the Election?
The governing board, which should place the choice on its calendar before the renewal.
What Does the Board Need Before It Votes?
A comparison of the cap methods using the body’s own costs, and a view of what employees would pay.
Does the Cap Apply to Every Benefit?
It applies to covered medical plan costs, so check how it treats other benefits with counsel.
Does ERISA Apply to These Plans?
Generally not, because governmental plans are exempt from ERISA Title I. Other federal and state rules still apply, so confirm with counsel.
Does the Affordable Care Act Apply?
It can reach governmental employers that meet the large-employer threshold, so track hours, offers and reporting.
Do You Work With Public Authorities and Boards?
Yes. We work with Michigan public employers on plan design, renewals, contribution limits and retiree coverage.
Can You Review Our Current Plan?
Yes. Send the plan documents and renewal and we will show where the plan stands and what options exist.
What Should We Send You First?
Your current plan summary, the renewal, and any contract or board language that affects benefits.
How Do We Start?
Send your renewal and the timeline for the decision. We will review it and show your options.
Ready? Upload your renewal, or talk it through with someone first. No cost, no obligation.
General information about authority board contribution rules, not legal or tax advice. Plan-specific questions belong with your counsel and tax advisor, and we will bring them in.
The Law Behind This Topic.
The laws named on this page link to the statute or regulation they come from. This is general information, not legal advice, and rules change, so check the current text and ask your counsel.
Publicly Funded Health Insurance Contribution Act (MCL 15.561)
Michigan’s cap on what a public employer pays toward medical plan costs, known as Public Act 152 of 2011.
Coverage of ERISA (29 U.S.C. 1003)
Explains that ERISA Title I does not reach a plan that qualifies as a governmental plan.
Related Public Employer Reading.
Authority and District Benefits
The page this belongs to.
Employer Benefits Guides
The full section.
Michigan Benefit Law at a Glance
The Michigan rules that touch employer benefits, in one place.
Public and Affordable Housing Employee Benefits
Housing commissions, nonprofit owners, management companies and supportive housing teams, with a page for each.
Heading to a Board Vote? Send Us the Renewal.
We’ll tell you whether it looks competitive, where we see opportunity, and the five questions we’d put to your carrier. No cost, and no obligation to move anything.
The renewal letter
Your current plan summary
Contribution split by tier
Enrolled counts by tier
Four documents, two more if your group is 50 or more. Nothing else; every extra one is a reason to postpone.
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