Letter Sent To Each ERISA Plan Participant Did Not Constitute Valid Plan Amendment
In this
case, the United States District Court held that a
letter sent to each ERISA plan participant did not constitute a valid plan
amendment, eliminating all health, dental, vision, and prescription drug
benefits. While the letter was signed by an officer of the company, and informed
the participants that the plan had been amended to eliminate medical benefits,
the letter did not satisfy the written instrument requirement since it failed to
enumerate the benefits which were being eliminated and failed to notify the plan
participant of the specific changes to the plan documents.
Halbach v. Great-West
Life & Annuity Ins. Co.