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Claim Procedures

In accordance with applicable law, the Plan will allow an authorized representative to act on a Claimant’s behalf in pursuing or appealing a benefit claim.

The availability of health benefit payments is dependent upon Claimants complying with the following:

Health Claims

Full and final authority to adjudicate claims and make determinations as to their payability by and under the Plan belongs to and resides solely with the Plan Administrator. The Plan Administrator shall make claims adjudication determinations after full and fair review and in accordance with the terms of this Plan and applicable law. To receive due consideration, claims for benefits and questions regarding said claims should be directed to the Third Party Administrator. The Plan Administrator may delegate to the Third Party Administrator responsibility to process claims in accordance with the terms of the Plan and the Plan Administrator’s directive(s). The Third Party Administrator is not a fiduciary of the Plan and does not have discretionary authority to make claims payment decisions or interpret the meaning of the Plan terms.

Written proof that expenses eligible for Plan reimbursement and/or payment were Incurred, as well as proof of their eligibility for payment by the Plan, must be provided to the Plan Administrator via the Third Party Administrator. Although a provider of medical services and/or supplies may submit such claims directly to the Plan by virtue of an assignment of benefits, ultimate responsibility for supplying such written proof remains with the Claimant. The Plan Administrator may determine the time and fashion by which such proof must be submitted. No benefits shall be payable under the Plan if the Plan Administrator so determines that the claims are not eligible for Plan payment, or, if inadequate proof is provided by the Claimant or entities submitting claims to the Plan on the Claimant’s behalf.

A call from a Provider who wants to know if an individual is covered under the Plan, or if a certain procedure is covered by the Plan, prior to providing treatment is not a “claim,” since an actual claim for benefits is not being filed with the Plan. These are simply requests for information, and any response is not a guarantee of benefits, since payment of benefits is subject to all Plan provisions, limitations and Exclusions. Once treatment is rendered, a Clean Claim must be filed with the Plan (which will be a “Post-service Claim”). At that time, a determination will be made as to what benefits are payable under the Plan.

A Claimant has the right to request a review of an Adverse Benefit Determination. If the claim is denied at the end of the appeal process, as described below, the Plan’s final decision is known as a Final Internal Adverse Benefit Determination. If the Claimant receives notice of a Final Internal Adverse Benefit Determination, or if the Plan does not follow the claims procedures properly, the Claimant then has the right to request an independent external review. The external review procedures are described below.

The claims procedures are intended to provide a full and fair review. This means, among other things, that claims and appeals will be decided in a manner designed to ensure the independence and impartiality of the persons involved in making these decisions.

Benefits will be payable to a Claimant, or to a Provider that has accepted an assignment of benefits as consideration in full for services rendered.

According to Federal regulations which apply to the Plan, there are four types of claims: Pre-service (Urgent and Non-urgent), Concurrent Care and Post-service.

Pre-service Claims
A “Pre-service Claim” occurs when issuance of payment by the Plan is dependent upon determination of payability prior to the receipt of the applicable medical care; however, if the Plan does not require the Claimant to obtain approval of a medical service prior to getting treatment, then there is no “Pre-service Claim.”

Urgent care or Emergency medical services or admissions will not require notice to the Plan prior to the receipt of care. Furthermore, if in the opinion of a Physician with knowledge of the Claimant’s medical condition, pre-determination of payability by the Plan prior to the receipt of medical care (a Pre-service Claim) would result in a delay adequate to jeopardize the life or health of the Claimant, hinder the Claimant’s ability to regain maximum function (compared to treatment without delay), or subject the Claimant to severe pain that cannot be adequately managed without the care or treatment that is the subject of the claim, said claim may be deemed to be a “Pre-service Urgent Care Claim.” In such circumstances, the Claimant is urged to obtain the applicable care without delay, and communicate with the Plan regarding their claim(s) as soon as reasonably possible.

If, due to Emergency or urgency as defined above, a Pre-service claim is not possible, the Claimant must comply with the Plan’s requirements with respect to notice required after receipt of treatment, and must file the claim as a Post-service Claim, as herein described.

Pre-admission certification of a non-Emergency Hospital admission is a “claim” only to the extent of the determination made – that the type of procedure or condition warrants Inpatient confinement for a certain number of days. The rules regarding Pre-service Claims will apply to that determination only. Once a Claimant has the treatment in question, the claim for benefits relating to that treatment will be treated as a Post-service Claim.

Concurrent Claims
If a Claimant requires an on-going course of treatment over a period of time or via a number of treatments, the Plan may approve of a “Concurrent Claim.” In such circumstances, the Claimant must notify the Plan of such necessary ongoing or routine medical care, and the Plan will assess the Concurrent Claim as well as determine whether the course of treatment should be reduced or terminated. The Claimant, in turn, may request an extension of the course of treatment beyond that which the Plan has approved. If the Plan does not require the Claimant to obtain approval of a medical service prior to getting treatment, then there is no need to contact the Plan Administrator to request an extension of a course of treatment, and the Claimant must simply comply with the Plan’s requirements with respect to notice required after receipt of treatment, as herein described.

Post-service Claims
A “Post-service Claim” is a claim for benefits from the Plan after the medical services and/or supplies have already been provided.

When Claims Must Be Filed

Post-service health claims (which must be Clean Claims) must be filed with the Third Party Administrator within 180 days of the date charges for the service(s) and/or supplies were Incurred. Benefits are based upon the Plan’s provisions at the time the charges were Incurred. Claims filed later than that date shall be denied.

A Pre-service Claim (including a Concurrent claim that also is a Pre-service claim) is considered to be filed when the request for approval of treatment or services is made and received by the Third Party Administrator in accordance with the Plan’s procedures.

A Post-service Claim is considered to be filed when the following information is received by the Third Party Administrator, together with the industry standard claim form:

The date of service.
The name, address, telephone number and tax identification number of the Provider of the services or supplies.
The place where the services were rendered.
The Diagnosis and procedure codes.
The amount of charges, which reflect any applicable PPO re-pricing, if any.
The name of the Plan.
The name of the covered Employee.
The name of the patient.

Upon receipt of this information, the claim will be deemed to be initiated with the Plan.

The Third Party Administrator will determine if enough information has been submitted to enable proper consideration of the claim (a Clean Claim). If not, more information may be requested as provided herein. This additional information must be received by the Third Party Administrator within 45 days (48 hours in the case of Pre-service urgent care claims) from receipt by the Claimant of the request for additional information. Failure to do so may result in claims being declined or reduced.

Timing of Claim Decisions

The Plan Administrator shall notify the Claimant, in accordance with the provisions set forth below, of any Adverse Benefit Determination (and, in the case of Pre-service claims and Concurrent claims, of decisions that a claim is payable in full) within the following timeframes:

Pre-service Urgent Care Claims:

If the Claimant has provided all of the necessary information, as soon as possible, taking into account the medical exigencies, but not later than 72 hours after receipt of the claim.
If the Claimant has not provided all of the information needed to process the claim, then the Claimant will be notified as to what specific information is needed as soon as possible, but not later than 24 hours after receipt of the claim.
The Claimant will be notified of a determination of benefits as soon as possible, but not later than 48 hours, taking into account the medical exigencies, after the earliest of:
- The end of the period afforded the Claimant to provide the information.
- The Plan’s receipt of the specified information.
If there is an Adverse Benefit Determination, a request for an expedited appeal may be submitted orally or in writing by the Claimant. All necessary information, including the Plan’s benefit determination on review, may be transmitted between the Plan and the Claimant by telephone, facsimile, or other similarly expeditious method. Alternatively, the Claimant may request an expedited review under the external review process.

Pre-service Non-urgent Care Claims:

If the Claimant has provided all of the information needed to process the claim, in a
reasonable period of time appropriate to the medical circumstances, but not later than 15 days after receipt of the claim, unless an extension has been requested, then prior to the end of the 15 day extension period.
If the Claimant has not provided all of the information needed to process the claim, then the Claimant will be notified as to what specific information is needed as soon as possible. The Claimant will be notified of a determination of benefits in a reasonable period of time appropriate to the medical circumstances, either prior to the end of the extension period (if additional information was requested during the initial processing period), or by the date agreed to by the Plan Administrator and the Claimant (if additional information was requested during the extension period).

Concurrent Claims:

Plan Notice of Reduction or Termination. If the Plan Administrator is notifying the Claimant
of a reduction or termination of a course of treatment (other than by Plan amendment or termination), notification will occur before the end of such period of time or number of treatments. The Claimant will be notified sufficiently in advance of the reduction or termination to allow the Claimant to appeal and obtain a determination on review of that Adverse Benefit Determination before the benefit is reduced or terminated. This rule does not apply if benefits are reduced or eliminated due to plan amendment or termination. A similar process applies for claims based on a rescission of coverage for fraud or misrepresentation.
Request by Claimant Involving Urgent Care. If the Plan Administrator receives a request from a Claimant to extend the course of treatment beyond the period of time or number of treatments involving urgent care, notification will occur as soon as possible, taking into account the medical exigencies, but not later than 24 hours after receipt of the claim, as long as the Claimant makes the request at least 24 hours prior to the expiration of the prescribed period of time or number of treatments. If the Claimant submits the request with less than 24 hours prior to the expiration of the prescribed period of time or number of treatments, the request will be treated as a claim involving urgent care and decided within the urgent care timeframe.
Request by Claimant Involving Non-urgent Care. If the Plan Administrator receives a request from the Claimant for a claim not involving urgent care, the request will be treated as a new benefit claim and decided within the timeframe appropriate to the type of claim (either as a Pre-service Non-urgent claim or a Post-service claim).
Request by Claimant Involving Rescission. With respect to rescissions, the following timetable applies:
- Notification to Claimant: 30 days
- Notification of Adverse Benefit Determination on appeal: 30 days

Post-service Claims:

If the Claimant has provided all of the information needed to process the claim, in a
reasonable period of time, but not later than 30 days after receipt of the claim, unless an
extension has been requested, then prior to the end of the 15 day extension period.
If such an extension is necessary due to a failure of the Claimant to submit the information necessary to decide the claim, the notice of extension shall specifically describe the required information, and the Claimant shall be afforded at least 45 days from receipt of
the notice within which to provide the specified information.
If the Claimant has not provided all of the information needed to process the claim and
additional information is requested during the initial processing period, then the Claimant will be notified of a determination of benefits prior to the end of the extension period, unless additional information is requested during the extension period, then the Claimant will be notified of the determination by a date agreed to by the Plan Administrator and the Claimant.

Extensions:

Pre-service Urgent Care Claims. No extensions are available in connection with Pre-
service urgent care claims.
Pre-service Non-urgent Care Claims. This period may be extended by the Plan for up to
15 days, provided that the Plan Administrator both determines that such an extension is necessary due to matters beyond the control of the Plan and notifies the Claimant, prior to the expiration of the initial 15 day processing period, of the circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Plan expects to render a decision.
Post service Claims. This period may be extended by the Plan for up to 15 days, provided that the Plan Administrator both determines that such an extension is necessary due to matters beyond the control of the Plan and notifies the Claimant, prior to the expiration of the initial 30 day processing period, of the circumstances requiring the extension of time and the date by which the Plan expects to render a decision.

Calculating Time Periods
The period of time within which a benefit determination is required to be made shall begin at the time a claim is deemed to be filed in accordance with the procedures of the Plan.

Notification of an Adverse Benefit Determination

The Plan Administrator shall provide a Claimant with a notice, either in writing or electronically (or, in the case of pre-service urgent care claims, by telephone, facsimile or similar method, with written or electronic notice following within three days), containing the following information:

Information sufficient to allow the Claimant to identify the claim involved (including date of service, the health care Provider, the claim amount, if applicable, and a statement describing the availability, upon request, of the Diagnosis code and its corresponding meaning, and the treatment code and
its corresponding meaning).
A reference to the specific portion(s) of the Plan Document upon which a denial is based.
Specific reason(s) for a denial, including the denial code and its corresponding meaning, and a
description of the Plan’s standard, if any, that was used in denying the claim.
A description of any additional information necessary for the Claimant to perfect the claim and an
explanation of why such information is necessary.
A description of the Plan’s review procedures and the time limits applicable to the procedures.
A statement that the Claimant is entitled to receive, upon request and free of charge, reasonable
access to, and copies of, all documents, records and other information relevant to the Claimant’s
claim for benefits.
Upon request, the identity of any medical or vocational experts consulted in connection with a claim,
even if the Plan did not rely upon their advice (or a statement that the identity of the expert will be
provided, upon request).
Any rule, guideline, protocol or similar criterion that was relied upon in making the determination
(or a statement that it was relied upon and that a copy will be provided to the Claimant, free of
charge, upon request).
In the case of denials based upon a medical judgment (such as whether the treatment is Medically
Necessary or Experimental), either an explanation of the scientific or clinical judgment for the determination, applying the terms of the Plan to the Claimant’s medical circumstances, or a statement that such explanation will be provided to the Claimant, free of charge, upon request.
In a claim involving urgent care, a description of the Plan’s expedited review process.