Is a plan required to treat all questions regarding benefits as claims for benefits under the plan?
No. The regulation does not govern casual inquiries about benefits or the circumstances under which benefits might be paid under the terms of a plan. On the other hand, a group health plan that requires the submission of ‘pre-service’ claims, such as requests for preauthorization, is not entirely free to ignore pre-service inquiries where there is a basis for concluding that the inquirer is attempting to file or further a claim for benefits, although not acting in compliance with the plan’s claim filing procedures. In such a case, the regulation requires the plan to inform the individual of his or her failure to file a claim and the proper procedures to be followed. Specifically, this type of notification is required where there is a communication by a claimant or authorized representative (e.g., attending physician) that is received by a person or organizational unit customarily responsible for handling benefit matters (e.g., personnel office) and that communication names the specific
No. The regulation does not govern casual inquiries about benefits or the circumstances under which benefits might be paid under the terms of a plan. On the other hand, a group health plan that requires the submission of pre-service claims, such as requests for preauthorization, is not entirely free to ignore pre-service inquiries where there is a basis for concluding that the inquirer is attempting to file or further a claim for benefits, although not acting in compliance with the plan s claim filing procedures. In such a case, the regulation requires the plan to inform the individual of his or her failure to file a claim and the proper procedures to be followed. Specifically, this type of notification is required where there is a communication by a claimant or authorized representative (e.g., attending physician) that is received by a person or organizational unit customarily responsible for handling benefit matters (e.g., personnel office) and that communication names the specific c
No. The regulation does not govern casual inquiries about benefits or the circumstances under which benefits might be paid under the terms of a plan. On the other hand, a group health plan that requires the submission of pre-service claims, such as requests for preauthorization, is not entirely free to ignore pre-service inquiries where there is a basis for concluding that the inquirer is attempting to file or further a claim for benefits, although not acting in compliance with the plans claim filing procedures. In such a case, the regulation requires the plan to inform the individual of his or her failure to file a claim and the proper procedures to be followed. Specifically, this type of notification is required where there is a communication by a claimant or authorized representative (e.g., attending physician) that is received by a person or organizational unit customarily responsible for handling benefit matters (e.g., personnel office) and that communication names the specific cl
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- Is a plan required to treat all questions regarding benefits as claims for benefits under the plan?
