Marshall v. Bankers Life & Casualty Co.

Opinion

PANELLI, J.

We granted review in this case to determine whether an employer that purchases a group health insurance policy to cover its employees and their dependents, but whose involvement in administration of benefits under the policy is minimal, thereby establishes an “employee benefit plan” within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) (29 U.S.C. § 1001 et seq.), so that an action seeking damages under state law for the denial of a claim for policy benefits is preempted by federal law.1 We conclude that an employee benefit plan is established on…