There are multiple versions of Form 5500, but it’s important to understand that Form 5500-SF (Short Form) is not available for health and welfare benefit plans.
Form 5500-SF:
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Designed for small pension and retirement plans with fewer than 100 participants
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Cannot be used for medical, dental, disability, or other welfare benefits
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Requires certain conditions to be met, such as no plan assets held in trust
Health and welfare plans:
Health and welfare plans subject to filing must use the regular Form 5500 and attach the appropriate schedules—such as Schedule A for insured benefits and Schedule C (if applicable for service providers).
In short, even if the employer is small and only offering insured health benefits, they must still use the standard Form 5500 if a filing is required. The short form is not an option for welfare plans.