What are common examples of Failure messages?
What are common examples of Failure messages?
Failure messages are critical issues that block a member's enrollment with the carrier and require immediate action. These represent problems serious enough that the carrier cannot process or maintain coverage until they're resolved.
Date of Birth Mismatch
Date of birth discrepancies are one of the most common Failure messages. When BerniePortal and the carrier have different birthdates on file for an employee, it creates a blocking issue.
Example: BerniePortal shows an employee's birthdate as 06/26/1997, but the carrier has 06/27/1997 in their system.
Why it's critical: Birthdates affect premium rates, eligibility, and dependent age requirements. The carrier cannot accurately price coverage or determine eligibility with conflicting birthdate information.
Resolution considerations: After correcting the birthdate, the employee may need to be re-enrolled if rates or coverage are impacted by the birthdate change.
Social Security Number Discrepancy
When the Social Security Number in BerniePortal doesn't match what the carrier has on file, enrollment cannot proceed.
Example: BerniePortal shows one SSN, but the carrier has a different SSN for the same employee.
Why it's critical: SSNs are primary identifiers used to uniquely identify members. Mismatches prevent the carrier from properly enrolling the individual and linking them to coverage.
Employment Status Conflicts
Discrepancies about an employee's employment status can block enrollment processing.
Example: BerniePortal reports an employment start date that conflicts with the carrier's reported value.
Why it's critical: Employment start dates determine eligibility timing and when coverage should begin. The carrier needs accurate information to activate coverage on the correct date.
Annual Earnings Discrepancies
For certain coverage types, particularly life insurance and disability, annual earnings mismatches can be Failures.
Example: BerniePortal has not reported an annual earnings amount, but the carrier requires this value for coverage that's based on salary.
Why it's critical: Life and disability benefits are often calculated as a percentage of salary. Without accurate earnings information, the carrier cannot determine appropriate coverage amounts or premiums.
Why Failures Require Immediate Attention
Unlike Warning messages that flag potential issues, Failure messages mean:
- Coverage is currently blocked or at risk
- Employees may not have active benefits
- Claims could be denied due to enrollment problems
- The carrier cannot proceed with normal enrollment processing
These issues should be prioritized and resolved as quickly as possible to ensure employees have uninterrupted coverage.
For information about less critical message types, see "What are common examples of Warning messages?" For general resolution guidance, see "How do I resolve carrier messages?"
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