| Broker | Address | Carrier | Commissions | Fees | Total comp | % of premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIDDAUGH BENEFITS CONSULTING INC3 | PO BOX 2543 FARGO, ND 58108 | BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ND | $210K | — | $210K | 9.06% |
| Provider | Services | Address | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ND EIN 45-0173185 NONE | Contract Administrator; Claims processing; Direct payment from the plan Service code 12 | — | $823K |
| ND ASSOCIATION OF RURAL ELECTRIC CO EIN 45-0231058 SPONSORING ASSOCIATIO | Plan Administrator Service code 14 | PO BOX 727 MANDAN, ND 58554 | $118K |
| PRIME THERAPEUTICS EIN 26-0076803 NONE | Other fees Service code 99 | — | $46K |
| EIDE BAILLY LLP NONE | Accounting (including auditing) Service code 10 | 401 N 31ST STREET, STE 1120 BILLINGS, MT 59103 | $13K |
Benefits declared on the Form 5500 main form (✓ = also has a Schedule A insurance contract; otherwise the benefit is funded out of plan assets or via a Schedule C TPA).
The plan reports several different headcounts depending on which form you read. Each one measures a different slice of the population.
| Active participants | 1,105 | Currently employed and enrolled or eligible. |
| Retired/separated still receiving benefits | 82 | Continuation coverage (COBRA, retiree health). |
| Retired/separated still eligible | 0 | Vested but not currently using benefits. |
| Total participants (= "Plan participants" tile) | 1,187 | Active + retired/separated + beneficiaries. No dependents. |
| Coverage | Top carrier | Persons covered EOY | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health (medical) | BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ND | 2,979 | $2.3M |
| Prescription drug | BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ND | 2,979 | $2.3M |
| Stop-loss / reinsurancereinsurance | BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF ND | 2,979 | $2.3M |
| Persons covered (= "Persons covered" tile) | Max across the rows above | 2,979 | — |
Why the numbers differ. Form 5500 line 6 counts employees + retirees + beneficiaries; no dependents. Schedule A persons-covered counts everyone enrolled, including spouses and children, so it usually exceeds line 6 by 30-60% on a working-age workforce. The medical row is normally the broadest single line because it has the highest take-up; dental/vision/life often dip below it. Stop-loss / reinsurance contracts sometimes report the carrier's full underwriting pool rather than this filer's headcount; the row is shown for transparency but shouldn't be read as "people in this plan."
Primary broker changed. Recently changed advisors; vulnerable to a second-look pitch or hostile takeover.
Broker compensation exceeds 5% of premium. Either a small-plan minimum-fee dynamic or an inefficient broker structure ripe for a counter-bid.
Top carrier holds >85% of premium. If that carrier hits a rate increase, the entire plan moves.
Multiple-employer welfare arrangement. Specific regulatory and compliance context; specific consultant niche.