New Rule Changes Disability Claim Processing Requirements
Effective for disability benefit claims filed after April 1, 2018, a new rule from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) requires ERISA-covered employee benefit plans offering disability benefits to provide additional procedural protections to claimants. The new rule ensures that protections for disability claimants parallel protections under the Affordable Care Act that already apply when workers file claims for group health benefits. These new protections apply to all ERISA-covered disability plans, regardless of how the benefit is characterized by the plan or whether the plan is a pension plan or a welfare plan.
Changes to Claim Processing Requirements
Most notably, the rule includes the following changes to the requirements for claim processing:
- Improvement to Basic Disclosure Requirements. Benefit denial notices must include a more complete discussion of why the plan denied a claim and the standards used in making the decision. For example, in relevant cases, the notice must explain why the Plan Administrator disagrees with the opinions of the participant’s or beneficiary’s health care professionals, vocational experts, or the Social Security Administration’s determination of disability
- Right to Internal Protocols. Benefit denial notices must include the internal rules, guidelines, protocols, standards, or other similar criteria of the plan that were used in denying a claim, or a statement that none were used.
- Access to Claims File. The Plan Administrator must inform participants, in benefit denial notices (rather than simply in notices denying benefits on appeal), that they are entitled to access, upon request and free of charge, all documents relevant to an adverse claim determination.
- Avoiding Conflicts of Interest. Plans must ensure that disability benefit claims and appeals are adjudicated in a manner designed to ensure the independence and impartiality of the persons involved in making the decision.
A summary of additional changes can be found by clicking here. To read the full text of the final rule, click here.
Visit our Employee Benefits section for additional information and resources to help employers comply with employee benefits laws.
To access your HR library, please visit www.HR360.com/login.
HR News Alerts provided by:
Team Nash
2005 E 2700 St, Suite 140, Salt Lake City, UT 84109
385-234-6754
Please Note: The information and materials herein are provided for general information purposes only and are not intended to constitute legal or other advice or opinions on any specific matters and are not intended to replace the advice of a qualified attorney, plan provider or other professional advisor. This information has been taken from sources which we believe to be reliable, but there is no guarantee as to its accuracy. In accordance with IRS Circular 230, this communication is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used as or considered a ‘covered opinion’ or other written tax advice and should not be relied upon for any purpose other than its intended purpose.
The information provided herein is intended solely for the use of our clients and members. You may not display, reproduce, copy, modify, license, sell or disseminate in any manner any information included herein, without the express permission of the Publisher. Kindly read our Terms of Use and respect our Copyright.
Copyright © 2018 HR 360, Inc., All rights reserved.