what is a multiple employer welfare arrangement mewa 
a multiple employer welfare arrangement mewa is a system for marketing health and welfare benefits to employers for their employees also described as a multiple employer trust met a multiple employer welfare arrangement happens when a group of employers combines their contributions in a self contributing benefits plan for the benefit of their employees for the arrangement to work the employers must make contributions to the plan based on the number of employees they have and the estimated costs associated with each employee mewas are a way for smaller companies to offer employee benefits outside of the government run health insurance exchanges by sharing risk they became popular as a result of the patient protection and affordable care act aca for more on mewas from the department of labor see erisa s multiple employer welfare arrangement informational page which lists the rules governing them fact sheets filing requirements news releases current amendments public comments and more 