What is the "plan administrator" and their duties?

• A. The plan administrator is the entity (employer or third-party administrator) responsible for plan administration, including COBRA notices, elections, and premium collection.
• B. A medical review board.
• C. The state's insurance commissioner.
• D. An employee's supervisor.

Answer: (A)

The plan administrator is the person or entity designated to run the employee benefit plan and handle COBRA duties. This includes administering COBRA notices, managing elections, and collecting premiums, along with maintaining enrollment and eligibility records. The administrator may be the employer or a third-party administrator, but whatever form it takes, this role is responsible for ensuring the plan operates smoothly and complies with COBRA and ERISA deadlines, notices, and record-keeping. They also coordinate with insurers or other providers as needed and respond to participant questions and government inquiries.

Other roles described don’t perform these administrative functions for the plan. A medical review board focuses on medical decisions, the state insurance commissioner acts as a regulator, and an employee’s supervisor oversees day-to-day staffing rather than benefits administration.