Haw. Code R. § 2.04 - Administrative Appeals (not related to Claim Filing and Appeals Information for Self-Insurance Plan Administered Benefits, which are discussed in Rule 2.06)

(a) A person aggrieved by one of the following eligibility decisions by the Fund may appeal to the board for relief from that decision:

(1) A determination that the person is not an employee-beneficiary, dependent-beneficiary or qualified-beneficiary, or that the person is not eligible to enroll in or be covered by a benefit plan offered or sponsored by the Fund;

(2) A determination that the person cannot make a change in enrollment, a change in coverage, or a change in plans;

(3) A cancellation or termination of the person's enrollment in or coverage by a benefit plan, offered or sponsored by the Fund; or

(4) A refusal to reinstate the person's enrollment in or coverage by a benefit plan, offered or sponsored by the Fund.

(b) The first step in the appeal process is an appeal to the administrator. In order to appeal to the administrator for relief, an aggrieved person must file a written appeal in the Fund's office within one hundred eighty (180) days of the date of the adverse decision with respect to which relief is requested. The written appeal shall be filed in duplicate. Unless otherwise provided by applicable federal or state law, neither the administrator nor the board shall be required to hear any appeal that is filed after the one hundred eighty (180) day period has expired. The written appeal need not be in any particular form but should contain the following information:

(1) The aggrieved person's name, address, and telephone number;

(2) A description of the decision with respect to which relief is requested, including the date of the decision;

(3) A statement of the relevant and material facts; and

(4) A statement as to why the aggrieved person is appealing the decision, including the reasons that support the aggrieved person's position or contentions.

(c) If the aggrieved person is dissatisfied with the administrator's action or if no action is taken by the administrator on the aggrieved person's written appeal within thirty (30) days of its being filed in the Fund's office, the second step in the appeal process is for the aggrieved person to file a written appeal to the board. A written appeal to the board must be filed in duplicate in the Fund's office within ninety (90) days of the administrator's action. If no action is taken by the administrator within thirty (30) days of the written appeal to the administrator being filed in the Fund's office, then the written appeal to the Board must be filed in duplicate in the Fund's office within one-hundred twenty (120) days of the written appeal to the administrator being filed in the Fund's office. The written appeal need not be in any particular form but shall contain the following information:

(1) The aggrieved person's name, address and telephone number;

(2) A statement of the nature of the aggrieved person's interest, e.g., employee-beneficiary or dependent-beneficiary;

(3) A description of the decision with respect to which relief is requested, including, the date of the decision;

(4) A complete statement of the relevant and material facts;

(5) A statement of why the aggrieved person is appealing the decision, including a complete statement of the position or contentions of the aggrieved party; and

(6) A full discussion of the reasons, including any legal authorities, in support of the aggrieved party's position or contentions.

Subject to applicable federal and state law, the board may reject any appeal that does not contain the foregoing information.

(d) The board at any time may request the aggrieved person or any other party to the proceeding to submit a statement of additional facts or a memorandum, the purpose of which is to clarify the party's position or a specific factual or legal issue.

(e) The board shall grant or deny the appeal within forty-five (45) days of the date of the postmark of a request for appeal. The board shall not be required to hold a hearing on any appeal unless otherwise required by applicable federal or state law. If required to hold a hearing! or if it decides to voluntarily hold a hearing on an appeal, subject to applicable federal or state law, the board may set such hearing before the board, a special, or standing committee of the board, a hearings officer, or any other person or entity authorized by the board to hear the matter in question. Nothing in these rules shall require the board to hear or decide any matter that can be lawfully delegated to another person or entity for a hearing and decision.

(f) At any time, an aggrieved person may voluntarily waive his or her rights to the administrative appeal provided by the Rule by submitting such a waiver in writing to the Fund's office. The board may require the aggrieved person to make such a waiver by signing a form prescribed by it.

Notes

Haw. Code R. § 2.04

Eff 8/13/2016 Eff 10/18/2019 Am 12/1/2023 Am 10/10/2024