Upcoming Offer is the set of benefits staged for open enrollment for a benefit subgroup. Configure it before you open enrollment so employees can elect the correct plans and contributions.
Who can configure Upcoming Offer
Employers with Benefits enabled, and Benefits Feature Admins with access to the subgroup, can open Upcoming Offer and attach or update plans. Users who are masquerading as the employer use the employer path.
To configure Upcoming Offer:
- Select Benefits in the top navigation menu.
- Select Subgroups in the secondary navigation menu.
- In the BENEFITS SUBGROUPS column, select the subgroup name.
- In the tertiary navigation, select Upcoming Offer.
- In the left sidebar, select ATTACH A PLAN.
- From the plan dropdown that appears, select the plan, then select Attach.
- In the left sidebar of plans, select the plan name, then enter the contribution details for that plan (see contribution options below).
- Select Save Changes.
- Repeat for every plan that belongs in this subgroup’s Upcoming Offer, and for every benefit subgroup that needs an Upcoming Offer.
For Benefits Feature Admins, select Benefits in the top navigation menu (BerniePortal opens the Subgroups list), select the subgroup name, then select Upcoming Offer.
Opening a subgroup from the list selects Configure by default. The tertiary navigation also includes Offer Overview, Current Offer, Upcoming Offer, and Configure.
If the subgroup is not finished on Configure, BerniePortal redirects you there with: Please complete the form to attach benefits. Complete subgroup configuration first. See Benefit Subgroup Configuration Area.
If no plans are available to attach, BerniePortal shows a message to import or create a plan first, or that all existing plans have already been attached.
Configure Upcoming Offer as the full suite of benefits employees should have after open enrollment—including plans that are not in the renewal group currently going through open enrollment when the employer has multiple renewal dates. When open enrollment opens, plans in Upcoming Offer move to Current Offer, and Upcoming Offer is cleared for those subgroups.
Set contributions for an attached plan
After you attach a plan, select it in the left sidebar. The fields you see depend on the plan type and premium setup.
For many health, dental, and vision plans, use the Rate Split: section. Enter amounts under Employee deductions: and Employer contributions: (usually per pay period). Entering a value in one field auto-fills the other based on the plan’s total cost.
For Health, Dental, Vision, and ICHRA Health plans (when Defined Contribution is not enabled and the subgroup is not a COBRA subgroup), Employer Contribution Calculation appears:
- Custom — enter employee and employer amounts for each coverage tier shown.
- Fixed % based on a plan/tier — available for Health (not for Dental, Vision, or ICHRA Health). Select a Base Plan, set Coverage Tier to Employee Only or Tier chosen by employee, enter the employer contribution percentages toward the base plan, and (for Health) choose Yes or No for Rollover unused Employee contribution towards dependent cost. The base plan must already be attached and saved in this subgroup’s Upcoming Offer.
For some age-banded multiperson Health setups, each coverage tier under Rate Split: includes $ and % options. Select $ or %, then enter the employee deduction and employer contribution for that tier.
Some plans (for example employer-paid life or disability) show contribution details set at plan creation and do not need a separate Rate Split entry before you save.
When Defined Contribution is enabled for the employer, contribution amounts for eligible plans are configured on the subgroup Configure page (and related Benefits settings), not under Employer Contribution Calculation on Upcoming Offer. See Benefit Subgroup Configuration Area.
Import from other subgroup
When you are signed in as the employer (including when masquerading as the employer), an attached plan can show Import from other subgroup near the top of the plan details.
- Select the plan in the left sidebar.
- Select Import from other subgroup.
- In the Import benefit data popup, select a subgroup under Select a subgroup whose data will be imported.
- Select Import (or Cancel to close without importing).
Importing replaces all data previously entered for this benefit in this subgroup. This action cannot be undone. If no matching subgroup is available, the popup shows: No subgroup found to import.