Build a Benefits Q&A Assistant with Your Plan Documents

1. Go to claude.ai and click Sign Up if you don't have an account
2. After signing in, click your name in the top left → Settings → Billing
3. Choose Claude Pro ($20/month) — you need Pro to upload documents and create Projects
4. Complete the payment and return to the main Claude interface

What you should see: The main Claude chat interface with a Projects option visible in the left sidebar.

Troubleshooting: If you don't see Projects, try refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache. Projects is a Pro feature — make sure billing went through.

1. In the left sidebar, click Projects → New Project
2. Name it something clear: "2026 Benefits Q&A — [Company Name]"
3. Click Create Project

What you should see: A project workspace with a chat area and a sidebar showing Project Instructions and Knowledge sections.

1. In the Project sidebar, find the Knowledge section
2. Click Add Content or the + button next to Knowledge
3. Upload your plan documents one at a time:

   • SPD (Summary Plan Description) — your most important document
   • SBC (Summary of Benefits and Coverage) for each health plan offered
   • Dental and vision plan documents if applicable
4. Wait for each document to finish processing (you'll see a checkmark or status indicator)

What you should see: Each document listed in the Knowledge section. Claude can now reference these documents when answering questions.

Troubleshooting: If a PDF upload fails, try saving the PDF to a different format or re-downloading it from the carrier portal. Very large PDFs (100+ pages) may take longer to process.

1. In the Project sidebar, click Project Instructions (or "Edit instructions")
2. Paste in these custom instructions — edit to match your company:

You are a benefits Q&A assistant for [Company Name]'s HR team. You have access to our 2026 benefit plan documents including the SPD, SBCs, and carrier plan summaries.

When answering questions:
- Always cite the specific plan document and section where the information comes from
- Be specific about cost-sharing amounts (deductibles, copays, coinsurance, out-of-pocket maximums)
- If a question is about a specific employee's situation or requires interpretation, say so and recommend they contact HR or the carrier directly
- Do not speculate about coverage for situations not explicitly addressed in the plan documents
- When coverage depends on medical necessity or prior authorization, say that clearly

You are helping HR staff find accurate plan information quickly. You are NOT providing legal or medical advice.

1. Click Save

Type a few test questions to verify the setup is working:

• "What is the deductible for the Cigna PPO plan for family coverage?"
• "Is mental health counseling covered?"
• "Does the HSA plan cover prescription drugs before the deductible?"
• "How many physical therapy visits are covered per year?"

What you should see: Responses that cite specific plan document sections and give accurate dollar amounts matching your documents. If a response gives the wrong amount or doesn't cite a source, check that the relevant document uploaded correctly.

1. In the Project, click Share or the team icon in the top right
2. Add email addresses of other HR team members who should have access
3. They'll receive an invitation to join the Project

What you should see: Team members can now access the same project and get consistent, document-grounded answers.