Managing Benefit Plans Part 2
The CD GBA 2 Course (Managing Benefit Plans Part 2) is being extensively revised and a new Study Guide and textbook will be required reading for purposes of the CEBS program and the national exam. These materials will be available for purchase through Books for Business beginning in January 2023. The updates will be reflected in exams administered on or after April 15, 2023. These updates cover all modules of the course.
The course details below will be reflected in the exam being offered beginning April 15, 2023.
This course is required to earn the following designations: GBA, CEBS
GBA 1 provides a framework of concepts, principles and processes for effective benefit plan management that is transferable to varying types of plan sponsor contexts. Building on that foundation, GBA2 dives deeper into specific design, funding, administration and communication considerations associated with life, short-and long-term disability, dental, extended health care and employee assistance benefits that can influence a plan sponsor's options and choices. Specific tax and privacy legislation constraints and more detailed discussion of some key terms and provisions are covered. The tension between the Canada Revenue Agency's position and the benefits industry's position/practice regarding coverage limits for the range of health benefits typically provided under group extended health care plans, health care spending accounts and/or taxable spending accounts is discussed. GBA2 brings the concepts, principles and processes covered in GBA 1 and GBA 2 to conclusion with a discussion of flexible benefit approaches as an alternative to a traditional benefits plan design for meeting workforce expectations for security, choice and personalization and for managing plan sponsor cost and utilization challenges. Flexible-benefit tax implications, pricing and credit structure, setting price tags and allocating flex credits are covered. Text-based reading is supported with tax guidance. Applications are illustrated in numerous case studies.