What should I do if my UPS health claim is denied?

File an appeal with the Teamster health fund (Teamcare or regional) — the contract isn't the appeal path, the plan document is.

A denied health claim is appealed through the Teamster health-and-welfare fund that covers you (Teamcare or a regional fund), not through the contract grievance procedure. The denial letter must include the reason and the deadline to appeal — typically 180 days under ERISA.

Steps that usually help: get the denial in writing, request the plan's summary plan description (SPD), ask your provider for a letter of medical necessity, and file the first-level appeal in writing within the deadline. If the first appeal is denied, an external review is available under ERISA.

If you also believe UPS misreported your hours or eligibility to the fund, that piece can be grieved through your steward. Ask TeamstersGPT for the contact information and appeal forms for the fund that covers your local.

Ask TeamstersGPT with your supplement selected to get the cited article and section for your local.