Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs)
The summary plan description or SPD is an important written document that a plan administrator must provide automatically and free of charge to participants of an ERISA-covered health benefit plan. The SPD provides information on when an employee can begin to participate in the plan, how service and benefits are calculated, when benefits become vested, when and in what form benefits are paid, and how to file a claim for benefits.
Sample SPDs
The following are samples of SPDs to be used for general reference purposes only. All SPDs should be developed in conjunction with a professional group benefits expert. Please note that the length of your company's SPD will depend on the particular plan design and benefits offered. The SPD must contain all of the information required under ERISA.
For questions regarding SPDs, please contact the U.S. Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration at 1-866-444-3272.
- Health Plan SPD Sample #1
- Health Plan SPD Sample #2
- Health Plan SPD Sample #3