Making Effective Use of the Claims/Disputes Process
The U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) recently filed a lawsuit against UMR, Inc., a third-party administrator and UnitedHealth Group, Inc. subsidiary. The lawsuit alleges that UMR denied thousands of claims based on diagnosis...more
The US Department of Labor (DOL) issued Information Letter 06-14-2021 last month to the attorney of a plan participant who requested a copy of an audio recording and transcript of a phone conversation he or she had with the...more
In a June 14, 2021 information letter, the US Department of Labor (DOL) opined that a claimant appealing an adverse benefit determination under a plan covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended...more
This week in our blog series on best practices in administering benefit claims, we discuss the importance of knowing and, importantly, understanding the laws governing benefit claim administration. Section 503 of ERISA...more
In an Information Letter dated February 27, 2019, the Department of Labor (DOL) clarified that an ERISA plan must include any procedures for designating authorized representatives in the plan’s claims procedure and summary...more
On July 12, 2018, a previous alert entitled “Bullet Proofing Your Claims Process” discussed lessons learned from a recent 5th Circuit decision in White v. Life Insurance Company of North America, (5th Cir. June 13, 2018,...more
Much has been written about the Department of Labor’s final rule regarding disability benefit claims procedures (the “Final Rule”), which took effect on April 2, 2018. And by now, most employers – and all disability insurance...more
PAID Underway. On April 3, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) officially launched its Payroll Audit Independent Determination (PAID) program to encourage employers to voluntarily resolve potential...more
On April 1, 2018, a new Department of Labor regulation that modifies the procedures ERISA-governed plans must use to evaluate disability claims took effect....more
Earlier this year the US Department of Labor ("DOL") announced that regulations specifying new procedural requirements for administration of disability benefits claims under plans that are subject to the Employee Retirement...more
After much delay and uncertainty, the U.S. Department of Labor’s final rule on disability benefit claims procedures is set to become effective April 1. The rule, which applies to ERISA employee benefit plans (including...more
On April 1, 2018, employer sponsored plans subject to ERISA and providing a benefit contingent on a disability determination will need to comply with new rules finalized by the Department of Labor (DOL). The new rules were...more
U.S. Department of Labor final regulations for disability claims under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) plans become effective on April 1, 2018. Plan sponsors should do two things: (1) review plans that...more
• Administrators of employee benefit plans governed by ERISA should make sure now that the claims procedures contained in their affected benefit plans comply with new regulations applicable to disability benefits. • The...more
Effective for claims filed after April 1, 2018, employee benefit plans governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) must comply with the US Department of Labor's new disability claims regulations....more
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced that the revised Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) disability benefit claim regulations will apply to claims filed on and after April 1, 2018. The...more
The DOL’s revised ERISA disability claims procedures regulations will be taking effect early next month, and plan sponsors should take a hard look at plan processes over the next few weeks to ensure compliance. ...more
The Department of Labor (DOL) issued final regulations that add to the existing requirements for disability benefits claims. The regulations add procedural steps and participant rights that must be included in a plan’s...more
In January 2018, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced that final regulations affecting how some ERISA plans process claims and appeals will apply beginning April 1, 2018. As explained below, the final regulations...more
After a three-month delay, the Department of Labor’s new regulations governing claims procedures for disability benefits under ERISA plans will become effective on April 1, 2018. The delay was implemented to provide an...more
The Department of Labor issued the final disability claims regulations on December 16, 2016. These regulations are effective for all claims filed on or after April 1, 2018. The Department felt the update was needed to...more
The U.S. Department of Labor announced earlier this year that the effective date for employee benefit plans to comply with its new final rule on disability claims procedures is April 1, 2018. The rule applies to claims for...more
The DOL issued final regulations that changed the handling of claims and appeals of disability determinations under benefit plans governed by ERISA. Here is what your benefits department needs to know and do: 1. Effective...more
On December 19, 2016, the Department of Labor (“DOL”) issued final rules that significantly expand the existing claims procedures applicable to ERISA-covered benefit plans that provide disability or other benefits conditioned...more
As we communicated in our previous advisory, the U.S. Department of Labor has issued new Disability Claims Procedures rules. The original effective date of these rules was extended with the result that the new rules are now...more