As the employee benefits industry evolves, the CEBS^® designation’s curriculum is updated to reflect this reality. The U.S. GBA 2 course has been fully revised to meet the changing group benefits plan landscape. The COVID-19 crisis created a multitude of challenges impacting both group benefit plans and the nation’s health care system. The government quickly enacted a prolific issuance of emergency legislative and regulatory measures. Plans saw massive behavioral changes in how their participants accessed and used medical services. Employers took on rethinking compensation and benefits philosophies and practices in real time. The workplace transformed overnight from a brick-and-mortar locational nexus to a remote (and eventual combination of remote and hybrid) working situation. This new CEBS course chronicles best practices in the marketplace and for regulatory compliance.

Study materials for GBA 2, including a new Study Guide and textbook, are available for purchase.  You’ll be able to write exams for the new course beginning in the second Testing Window of 2023. Online Study Groups With Instructor Support for the new courses will be offered for the first time during the summer 2023 session

Below is an outline of the new U.S. course:

GBA 2 —Directing Benefits Programs Part 2

Module 1: Changing Dynamics of the U.S. Health Care System

Module 2: Rating and Premium Setting

Module 3: Controlling Risk Factors

Module 4: Designing Cost-Effective Health Provider Networks

Module 5: Participant Response to Health Plan Pricing
Benefits in Action #1: Benefits Get Personal

Module 6: Initiatives in Health Care Quality Improvement
Benefits in Action #2: Understanding the Patient Perspective

Module 7: The Small-Group and Individual Insurance Markets

Module 8: Self-Funding by Small Employers
Benefits in Action #3: Stop-Loss Mathematics: Understanding the Costs of Lasering

Module 9: Integrated Patient Care
Benefits in Action #4: Systems Thinking Comes to Benefits

Module 10: Disability Income Programs

Module 11: Long-Term Care Insurance

Module 12: Life Insurance Concepts and Policy Options

Module 13: Integrated Case Study:  Employee Benefits—Balancing Competing Constraints

If you have any questions about CEBS study materials or the new U.S. GBA 2 course, please reach out to our CEBS Customer Service team at cebs@ifebp.org.