When should benefit plan mapping be utilized?

Benefit plan mapping is a critical process used to ensure that employees' benefit selections are appropriately managed when changes occur in the benefits offered by a company. The most relevant scenario for utilizing benefit plan mapping is when discontinuing a benefit plan. When a benefit plan is no longer available, it is essential to have a plan in place for how affected employees will transition to other available benefits. This process ensures that employees do not experience a gap in coverage and helps in reallocating employees to new plans that meet their needs.

Mapping the benefits allows organizations to define how each employee’s existing selections will be handled. For instance, the organization may need to set rules regarding how to convert, consolidate, or transfer benefits based on the employee’s previous selections and the new offerings. This careful management safeguards employee satisfaction and compliance with legal requirements, particularly regarding employee rights to benefits during transitions.