If the employer’s business is disrupted by the pandemic and health benefit payments are not being made on time, what should the employee do?
Category: Workplace Benefits Questions
Sub-Category: Health Benefits/Health Plans/Health Insurance
Answer:
The employee can call the plan administrator to determine the reason for the delay. Ask whether the plan is having operational problems or whether this problem is limited to the individual employee’s benefits. If the problem is limited to the individual benefits, discuss how to resolve the problem with the administrator. If the delay involves a plan operation issue, ask what efforts are being made to make timely payments.
Firms providing services to the plan, such as third party administrators, may also be able to provide information about benefit payments.
If the employee is still unable to get information about the status of benefits, he or she may contact one of the Employee Benefit Security Administration’s (EBSA) benefits advisors at 1-866-444-EBSA (3272), or contact EBSA by email at askebsa@dol.gov.
Note: As an overall matter, employers should be guided in their relationship with their employees not only by federal employment law, but by their own employee handbooks, manuals, and contracts (including bargaining agreements), and by any applicable state or local laws.
Not all of the employment laws referenced apply to all employers or all employees, particularly state and local government agencies. For information on whether a particular employer or employee is covered by a law, please use the links provided for more detailed information. This information is not intended for federal agencies or federal employees -- they should contact the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for guidance.
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Last Updated: 01/25/2008
