Upcoming Events

Chapter Chat | Annual Open Enrollment, Upcoming Challenges for the Year, State Leave Laws
Friday, July 11, 2025
10:00 - 11:00 PM PST

Grab your coffee or tea and join us for an interactive discussion.
We are bringing back our periodic Pacific Northwest Chapter outreach program.  This is set up as an informal session to connect and discuss issues affecting us at work.
We'll have a round table to include a few hot topics including:
  • Annual enrollment planning
  • Challenges for the year ahead
  • How to keep up with State leave laws
While there will not be any continuing education for this session, it will be a great opportunity to connect with others in the Chapter
​
2025 Seattle Healthcare & Retirement Plan Summit
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
11:30 AM - 3:00 PM PST

Join us for the 2025 Seattle Healthcare & Retirement Plan Summit! This education-focused workshop event is part of the 2025 Retirement Plan Road Show, which has helped thousands of plan sponsors positively-impact millions of America’s retirement and healthcare plan participants.

Finance, Human Resource & Healthcare Benefit Executives, Business Owners, and Fiduciaries are invited to hear local experts tackle key topics and best practices for 2025 - from the convergence of healthcare & retirement to total rewards strategies, risk exposures, advisor benchmarking + more. 

FEATURED DISCUSSION TOPICS:
     • What Every Fiduciary Needs to Know for 2025
     • Convergence of Healthcare & Retirement
     • Advisor Benchmarking + RFI & RFP Best Practices
     • Risk Exposures & Solutions for Fiduciaries
     • Engaging Your Employees with Financial Wellness Programs
     • Employee Benefits Market Outlook

Enter “PNW25” in the Registration Code box to waive the $250 registration fee!




PAST EVENTS
​
Webinar: Captive 101: Why and How to Establish a Captive
April 16th, 2025
10:30-11:45am Pacific
​
Are you seeking innovative ways to finance your self-insured risk? A captive is a licensed insurance company that is generally owned and controlled by those it insures. This risk management tool can have broad applications that are not limited to large companies. Businesses of all sizes can leverage the robust benefit offerings a captive brings for greater control, higher potential savings, and customized program options. In this presentation, we explore the basics by delving into sample captive structures, the process of evaluating the feasibility of a benefits captive, and the steps to establish, manage, and operate one.

Takeaways:
  • Learn the basics and strategic value of benefit captives, along with key evaluation considerations for employers of all sizes.
  • Learn about different structures of captives and their potential for control, savings, and customization.
  • Gain knowledge on the process of evaluating if a captive is feasible and the process of establishing, managing and operating one.

​Webinar: COBRA
January 8, 2025
10:30-11:45am Pacific

​Most employer-sponsored group health plans must comply with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), which sets standards to protect employee benefits. One of the protections contained in ERISA is the right to COBRA continuation coverage, a temporary continuation of group health coverage that would otherwise be lost due to certain life events. This presentation will go over which plans are subject to COBRA requirements, what makes an individual entitled to an offer of COBRA continuation, required notices and timelines, duration of coverage, and alternative coverage options.
 
Take-aways:
  • An individual will be entitled to COBRA if 3 basic requirements are met: 1) The individual’s group health plan is subject to COBRA (plan coverage); 2) A qualifying event (QE) occurs, and 3) The individual is a qualified beneficiary (QB).
  • COBRA continuation coverage is generally available for up to 18-36 months depending on the QE (e.g. job termination, divorce, or loss of dependent status under the plan rules) and the type of QB (e.g. employee, spouse, or dependent).
  • COBRA continuation laws provide minimum requirements, meaning the plan sponsor may be more generous than the law requires so long as the plan sponsor is consistent in its administration for all similarly situated individuals.

Webinar: Terminated Vested Participant Project (TVPP)
October 9, 2024

This presentation will provide an overview of the defined benefit pension plan procedures to ensure that terminated vested participants (TVPs) are reminded of their rights to benefits under the plan and that they receive those benefits upon eligibility. The presentation will include information on Terminated Vested Participant Project (TVPP) investigations, common red flags, and recommended best practices.

Take-aways: 
  • Plans must maintain adequate census and other records necessary to determine: a) the identity and address of participants and beneficiaries due benefits, b) the amount of benefits due, and c) when participants and beneficiaries are eligible to commence benefits.
  • Plans should have appropriate procedures for advising TVPs of their eligibility to apply for benefits as they near normal retirement age and the date they must start required RMDs.
  • Plans should implement appropriate search procedures for terminated participants and beneficiaries for whom they have incorrect or incomplete information (a.k.a. “Missing Participants”).


Webinar: Mental Health Parity
August 14, 2024

This presentation will provide an overview of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) for those who oversee the administration of employer-sponsored group health plans. Our speakers from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) will discuss parity requirements between mental health/substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits and medical/surgical benefits provide by employer-sponsored plans. Topics will include Non-Quantitative Treatment Limitations (NQTLs) and Quantitative Treatment Limitations (QTLs) to be aware of when ensuring plan compliance.
 
Take-aways: 
     • MHPAEA requires group health plans to provide mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) benefits in parity (comparable) to
        medical and surgical benefits.
     • A plan may not impose a requirement or limitation to MH/SUD benefits that is more restrictive than the predominant financial
        requirement or treatment limitation of that type that is applied to substantially all medical/surgical benefits in the same classification.
     • A plan may not impose Non-Quantitative Treatment Limitations (NQTLs) on MH/SUD benefits in any classification unless any
        processes, strategies, evidentiary standards, or other factors used in applying that NQTL are comparable to and apply no more
        stringently than other factors that are used in applying that NQTL to Med/Surg benefits in the classification.

 Webinar: Metlife's 22nd Annual U.S. Employee Benefits Trend Study 2024
July 24, 2024

Last year, MetLife revealed “employee care” as a powerful tool to help employers to support their workforce and reach talent management goals. This year’s EBTS report builds on that work by focusing on the importance of delivering care at key moments both in and outside the workplace.
       For example: 
      • Employees who understand and use their benefits are 88% more likely to feel cared for by their employers compared to only 34% of those who don’t. 
     • Additionally, employees who feel cared for are 60% more likely to intend to be with their organizations in 12 months and 55% more likely to feel productive at                 work. 

Medicare Made Easy for Employers
March 27, 2024

How should benefit professionals address this very important decision that our employees face? Do we give advice? Direct them to Medicare.gov? Most of us have enough to do with our own employer sponsored and managed plans!
On the other side of the education issue is the financial implications. What is the cost of having over age 65 employees and/or dependents enrolled in your medical plan? We will talk about a proactive approach that employers are now taking to ease their employees through the decision-making process, without having to themselves be experts.

Webinar: Benefits 101 - Medical SBC Walkthrough
March 21, 2024

Near the beginning of 2013, the Federal Government began requiring all medical plans to provide those eligible or enrolled with a standardized benefit summary. This way, an individual could compare different plans against each other more easily. The new forms included a Summary of Benefits & Coverage (SBC) as well as a Uniform Glossary that spelled out the meaning of more than fifty health-related words used throughout the SBC. Sandy Wood will review both the Uniform Glossary, the SBC, typical information you’ll find in the SBC, as well as what you may not find there.  

Retirement Planning Trends and Best Practices
December 5, 2023

This presentation will help employers gain a clear understanding of their fiduciary obligations as retirement plan sponsors and learn how to effectively manage and reduce fiduciary risk. We will also cover legislative updates impacting employer-sponsored retirement plans. Participants will be informed about recent changes in regulations and laws that may affect their retirement plans, ensuring they stay compliant and up-to-date with the latest requirements.  
Finally, the presentation will provide effective strategies for alleviating plan administrative tasks and offering engaging employee education.  Attendees will learn practical tips and best practices to streamline administrative processes, reduce costs, and enhance the effectiveness of their retirement plans, ultimately benefiting both employers and employees.

Pharmacy Market Trends
October 18, 2023

Thoughtful and strategic decisions are essential to delivering lower costs, helping clients move to the right opportunities at the right time. As the market and client needs change, so do strategies. We all need to continue to review new products and pricing to evolve strategies to align with client needs and the changing pharmaceutical landscape.
​
Dreaming of Retirement
May 17, 2023
 
Many people can't wait for retirement, yet they spend more time planning their vacations than putting together a formal plan. To be confident that you can sustain the retirement lifestyle you envision, you may need to do some calculations to determine whether you are on track to have the necessary income or assets. We'll provide the tools to help ensure your retirement dreams are realistic.

 
A 360-Degree View of EAPs
June 7, 2023
 
Why implement an employee assistance program (EAP)? And, if your organization already has an EAP, are you and your workforce getting maximum value from the program? Join us for a panel discussion that will take a 360-degree approach to understanding the best value of employee assistance. Learn tips on engagement, communication and implementation from “boots on the ground” experts. Our panel of human resource professionals, culture and people managers, provider specialists and consultants will share answers to your questions and solutions to your concerns.

​
Webinar: Metlife's 21st Annual Benefits Trend Study
July 25, 2023


 
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All Webcast Committee webcasts are available on demand for Society members in Members Only.
​

Other Educational Events of Interest

The Pacific NW Chapter partners with several other organizations which provide education for employee benefits and HR professionals.  Below is a list of the organizations. Please take a look to see if there are programs that help meet your professional development needs.
 
ALASKA
ASHRM https://ashrm57216.wildapricot.org/events
 
HAWAII
Hawaii SHRM https://www.shrmhawaii.org/
 
IDAHO
HRATV https://www.hratv.org/events
SICBA https://www.sicba.net/events
IAHU http://iahu.org/events/
Snake River SHRM https://snakeriver.shrm.org/events
Idaho SHRM https://idaho.shrm.org/events
WP&BC https://wpbcboise.org/
 
MONTANA
Montana SHRM https://montana.shrm.org/
 
NEVADA
Las Vegas      https://snv.shrm.org/
Reno      www.nnhra.org
 
OREGON
Barran Liebman      http://barran.com/seminars/upcoming-seminars.html
Bullard Law      https://bullardlaw.com/events/events.html
Central OR HRA https://www.hrcentraloregon.org/
Klamath SHRM Link on SHRM doesn’t work
Lane County HRA https://lchra.org/events
Lower Columbia http://lchrma.org/
Mid-Valley SHRM https://midvalley.shrm.org/ 
Portland State University(PSU) HR Management Association https://www.psuhrma.org/
PHRMA https://www.portlandhrma.org/events/event_list.asp
Rewards NW http://rewardspnw.com/
Rogue Valley https://shrmroguevalley.shrm.org/
Salem SHRM https://salem.shrm.org/
Total Rewards PDXhttps://www.cwcg.org/Events
WP&BC https://www.wpbcportland.org/ 
Yamhill Co HRA https://ychra.shrm.org/
 
UTAH
Bridgerland SHRM http://www.bridgerlandshrm.org
Color Ctry HRA http://colorcountryhra.clubexpress.com/
HR Assoc. Cent UT https://centralutahshrm.org/
N. Utah SHRM http://www.nuhra.org
SLC SHRM https://www.slshrm.org/
WP&BC https://wpbcsaltlake.org/
 
WASHINGTON
EBPA https://ebpa.org/events 
WAHU https://www.wahealthunderwriters.org/event-calendar
SSAHU http://ss-ahu.org/events
TCAHU http://tcahu.com/news/events/   
LWHRA https://www.lwhra.org/event-calendar
SKC SHRM https://www.southkingcountyshrm.org/Meetings-and-Events
SPS SHRM https://sps.shrm.org/events/ 
SW WA SHRM https://swshrm.org/meetinginfo.php 
WA APA https://www.rainierchapterapa.org/
WA SHRM https://wastatecouncil.shrm.org/events 
WP&BC https://wpbcseattle.org/
 
WYOMING
Big Horn SHRM https://bighornmountain.shrm.org/
High Desert HRA https://highdeserthr.shrm.org/
Frontier HRA https://frontierhr.shrm.org/
Energy SHRM      https://centralwy.shrm.org/home
Powder River https://prb.shrm.org/
 
MULTI-STATE
ASPPA https://www.asppa.org/events
BAN https://benefitadvisorsnetwork.com/
BenefitsPro https://www.benefitspro.com/webcasts/ 
EBRI https://www.ebri.org/
Employers Health https://www.employershealthco.com/events/ 
Ernst & Young http://www.ey.com/gl/en/issues/thought-center-webcasts
Montridge https://montridge.com/
Ogletree Deakins   https://ogletree.com/webinars-seminars/
Stoel Rives      https://www.stoel.com/
Xponential http://xgrowthsolutions.com/events/
Zywave https://www.zywave.com/upcoming-webinars/
Let us know at [email protected] if you have an idea for topic!

​QUESTIONS:
Please contact [email protected]