The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
8801 Indian Hills Drive
Omaha, NE 68114-4066
Toll free (800) 423-2765
LincolnFinancial.com
KEENAN & ASSOCIATES
ATTN: ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT
2355 CRENSHAW BLVD STE 200
TORRANCE, CA 90501
Dear Partner,
Your clients' needs aren't like everyone else's — and neither are their employees'. That's why at Lincoln, we believe success comes from having the right partnership, the right products, and the right people working with you every step of the way. Using these resources, we will help City of Vernon deliver benefits that simplify administration and engage and motivate employees.
Enclosed is the proposal for City of Vernon and a commission summary by product. After reviewing the entirety with City of Vernon, please let me know if they agree to all of the terms and conditions in the attached proposal, including the commission summary, or if clarifications are necessary.
As your partner, Lincoln is committed to listening to you and understanding your clients' needs — taking your concerns and highest priorities into account as we make recommendations. This is how we best serve your clients and their employees.
Thank you for considering Lincoln Financial Group. If you have any questions, please contact me.
Sincerely,
Jason Young
[email protected]
(818) 649-7450 Ext. 111
Quote ID: 252645
Commission summary
This summary describes the commission assumptions for the rates quoted as a part of this proposal.
EmployeeConnectSM Plus
Option Commission scale
1 Net
Broker compensation is included as indicated in the chart above. Additional third-party override and/or service fee(s) may be applicable. A detailed accounting of commissions, overrides, and fees can be found on the Schedule A to the 5500 provided to you each year if your plan is governed by ERISA, if applicable.
Brokers may also be eligible to participate in a broker bonus program. If you need additional information on your anticipated compensation in order to satisfy any applicable producer disclosure obligations, please contact your Lincoln Sales Representative.
Lincoln Financial Group requires that all producers receiving quotes for the purpose of soliciting, negotiating or selling insurance products, hold valid licenses as required by state regulations, and obtain all necessary appointments with the appropriate Lincoln underwriting company related to the sale of insurance.
For appointment forms, please contact the Licensing Department at [email protected].
Quote ID: 252645
Group Benefits
Proposal prepared for:
City of Vernon
Presented to:
KEENAN & ASSOCIATES
Prepared by:
Jason Young
[email protected]
(818) 649-7450 Ext. 111
Proposal valid through: January 07, 2026
Situs state: California
Products:
EmployeeConnectSM Plus
Quote ID: 252645
Table of contents
Welcome................................................................................................................................1 Wellness Path........................................................................................................................ 3 Cost summary........................................................................................................................4 EmployeeConnect℠ Plus........................................................................................................5 Proposal disclaimer............................................................................................................... 7 Privacy Noce........................................................................................................................8 HIPAA Privacy Noce...........................................................................................................11 Quote ID: 252645
Welcome
We're pleased to meet you.
And we'd like to let you know how we
do things just a little differently at Lincoln.
After a century or so, you learn a thing or two.
Youlearnthat integrity is morethananice wordtouse withyour customers. Youlearnthat trust is somethingyoucontinuously earn. You learn that value isn't always measured in dollars and cents.
And you learn that the key difference between one carrier and another often isn't the product itself. It's the personal commitment a company shows toward its customers, the flexibility that lets us deliver the right plan for each company, and the daily interactions that add up to the kind of experience you can count on when you work with Lincoln.
For more than 110 years, Lincoln Financial Group has been dedicated to delivering the flexible solutions and customer support needed at some of the most challenging times in a person's life. We promise to be there when our customers need us, giving them the tools and information they require to confidently select, use and administer their benefits. And we work closely with our customers to develop solutions that not only meet immediate needs but also recognize future developments and concerns.
In short, we promise to do the right thing.
Doing the right thing for our customers
We know that employers aren't looking for cookie-cutter coverage with impersonal service. Companies put their reputations on the line when they select a carrier to provide benefits for their employees. A carrier's actions — and inactions — can reflect directly on the company that made the choice.
That's why Lincoln is committed to working as an ally to each of our employer groups, focusing on what benefits each company and its employees need to grow and thrive.
Quote ID: 252645
1 Doing the right thing for employees who depend on our coverage Of course, strong relationships with our customers are essential. But in the end, it comes down to results. Did our coverage make a difference in the lives of employees? Can they depend on Lincoln when it matters most? Here are just a few of the ways how — and how many — people were helped by Lincoln group benefits:1 83,416
new moms
who enjoyed time off
with their babies
226,492
disabled
individuals
whose lives we helped get
back on track and who we
helped regain
the ability to work
3,051 kids
whose smiles we enhanced by
helping parents fund braces
25,265
beneficiaries
who lost a loved one
7,533
people
who made trips to the ER for
which we helped cover immediate
“accidental” expenses
Doing the right thing for the future
We're making sure our customer-oriented approach continues to meet your expectations, by making strategic clinical and technical investments and taking the proactive steps necessary to ensure our infrastructure will always be ready and able to:
✔ Anticipate future challenges and support our customers with purpose-built employee benefit solutions ✔ Deliver quick and accurate implementation and enrollment for every size workforce ✔ Meet specific plan-design requests that fit a company's needs and budget ✔ Offer robust self-service capabilities that help employees easily manage their benefits We've got your back
We are honored to be number 188 on the 2020 Fortune 500 list. As one of the nation’s leading group disability insurers, we offer broad, flexible group benefits portfolios including total absence management services, as well as life, dental, vision, accident and critical illness protection.2 Our sound and secure past and sharp eye toward the future mean that we’ll be there when you need us — a trusted partner always ready to back up our promises with performance.3 We welcome the opportunity to meet, to further discuss the contents of this proposal and to explore how together, we can help you reach your employee benefit goals.
12020 claims.
22019 LIMRA ratings for Annuities, Life Insurance, Retirement Plan Services and Group Protection. 3Guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing company.
Quote ID: 252645
2 Lincoln WellnessPATH® is available to customers to strengthen employer benefit programs, attract and retain top talent, and develop a healthier and more productive workforce. A holistic approach to wellness that includes a robust financial wellness resource — like Lincoln WellnessPATH —delivers what employees want from their employer.
Lincoln WellnessPATH® provides the tools and personalized guidance to help employees make smart decisions and relieve financial stress that can affect life at work and home. Lincoln’s WellnessPATH can help:
Ø Improve employee health behaviors
Ø Lessen elevated health risks
Ø Reduce in healthcare costs
Ø Improve employee productivity
Ø Decrease employee absenteeism
Ø Improve recruitment and retention
Ø Increase employee morale knowing they are financially secure The Lincoln WellnessPATH® online tool helps employees set financial goals, prioritize and meet their financial obligations. After completing a short quiz, employees receive a wellness score and actionable steps in the four primary components of financial wellness:
Savings Debt Spending Protection
With Lincoln WellnessPATH, employees can:
Ø See all financial accounts in one place
Ø Tap into valuable resources and educational tools
Ø Establish a budget and monitor cash flow
Ø Set and meet goals to form new habits
Employers can receive Workforce Reports that visually highlights data such as overall financial wellness score, user acquisition and usability, areas of stress, advisor meeting trends and more.
We’re here to guide you with a full suite of marketing materials to support promoting Lincoln WellnessPATH® including email templates, videos, flyers, posters, table tents and postcards.
LCN-5774542-062723
This material is provided by The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, Fort Wayne, IN, Lincoln Life & Annuity Company of New York, Syracuse, NY, and Lincoln Life Assurance Company of Boston, Dover, NH, and their applicable affiliates (collectively referred to as “Lincoln”). This material is intended for general use with the public. Lincoln does not provide investment advice, and this material is not intended to provide investment advice. Lincoln has financial interests that are served by the sale of Lincoln programs, products and services. Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation and its affiliates.
3 Cost summary
EmployeeConnectSM Plus rates
Option: 1 Covered employees: 220
Effective date: 01/01/2026 EAP PLUS – PEPM: $1.28
Total monthly fee: $281.60
Quote ID: 252645
4 EmployeeConnect℠ Plus
EmployeeConnectSM Plus provides employees with professional, confidential guidance, promoting well-being and productivity by helping employees cope with life’s everyday challenges. This premium package of information, resources, and creative solutions features a strong and diverse network of GuidanceExpertsSM, trained specialists who can assist with behavioral health, legal and financial issues. The current network includes GuidanceExperts who speak more than 75 languages and are able to assist hearing-impaired individuals. Every effort is made to match the employee with GuidanceExperts who speak the same language, understand the issues at hand and appreciate the employee’s culture.
EmployeeConnectSM Plus benefit overview
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through EmployeeConnectSM Plus can help with common issues such as:
• balancing personal and professional lives
• finding convenient and reliable day-care and elder-care options • resolving conflict with a spouse/partner, child or adolescent, other family members, friends or coworkers • supporting managers and supervisors in addressing performance issues • offering services after unexpected tragedies in the workplace or greater community • assisting with personal legal and financial matters
• improving employee productivity through better management of employees’ personal issues • delivering training and workshops that address common employee issues This is not an exact list; additional benefits may be found in the administrative services agreement and may vary by state.
EmployeeConnectSM Plus rates
EmployeeConnectSM Plus rates
Option: 1 Covered employees: 220
Effective date: 01/01/2026 EAP PLUS – PEPM: $1.28
Total monthly fee: $281.60
Quote ID: 252645
5 Key coverage highlights
Telephonic and online support services
• toll-free access 24 hours a day/7 days a week to master’s-level intake, providing access and triage o counseling, legal, financial, work-life and/or convenience services o crisis intervention support
• access to password-protected interactive online website o includes information on a wide range of topics, helpful tools, assessments and the ability to confidentially email issues to guidance consultants
Counseling services
• six face-to-face sessions per person, per issue, per year • local, in-person EmployeeConnectSM Plus assessment, referral and counseling • eligibility includes the employee and all household members including spouses, children, parents and roommates • community resource referrals to supplement EmployeeConnectSM Plus counseling, such as support meetings and sliding scale resources
• matching employees with a network provider based on individual preference Legal services
• unlimited telephonic support for information from an attorney and unlimited referrals • one free 30-minute consultation with a network attorney over the phone or in person • discount of 25% off published fees when in-person representation is necessary Financial Services
• unlimited telephonic support by a financial expert for budgeting and other common financial issues • unlimited referrals to a network of financial experts Work-life services
• unlimited telephonic support for customized research
• tailored educational materials
• referrals for child care, adoption, elder care; additional referrals available for personal convenience, education and pet care
• resource and information research available on a wide range of topics Management support
• HR expertise and policy-based consultation for managers, supervisors and HR • information provided professionally and within specific company HR policies and guidelines • employee referral management; information and tools to support employee performance issues • drug-free workplace and DOT policy consultation
Critical incident support
• critical incident response services: expert management consultation and prompt onsite services to lessen the impact of traumatic events
o onsite services and unlimited telephonic consultations o services include two hours for every 250 employees per contract year. These onsite hours may be composed of any combination of critical incident services, orientation sessions, personal development workshops or health fair representation.
Communication and reporting support
• program literature includes promotional brochures, wallet cards and semiannual posters and fliers • program evaluation reporting provided by a designated account manager o reporting includes information on utilization and presenting issues with metrics o quarterly newsletter
Quote ID: 252645
6 Proposal disclaimer
THIS IS NOT A CONTRACT: This proposal was prepared based on the information provided in the Request for Proposal and/or through other discussions with the Broker. It is a description of administrative services and/ or insurance. Insurance and/or administrative services available from Lincoln Financial Group are not offers to contract. More detailed information regarding insurance is available upon request concerning the term, conditions, and limitations contained in the master policy, if issued.
If there are discrepancies between the information contained in this proposal and the administrative services agreement, the terms of the administrative services agreement will control. State-specific restrictions and requirements may not be addressed in this proposal.
This proposal is subject to revision if not accepted on or before the proposed valid through date shown on the cover page of this proposal.
This proposal is written under the assumption that the coverage would be part of the employer's benefit package for employees and would be subject to the applicable rules under the Employee Retirement and Income Security Act.
Product availability and/or features may vary by state. Limitations and exclusions apply.
Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation and its affiliates. Affiliates are separately responsible for their own financial and contractual obligations.
Non-Lincoln affiliates
The following third party provides services that are incorporated in this proposal, but services may not be available in all states:
EmployeeConnectSM Plus services are provided by ComPsych® Corporation, Chicago, IL. ComPsych® is a registered trademark of ComPsych® Corporation.
The companies listed above are not Lincoln Financial Group® companies. Coverage is subject to actual contract language. Each independent company is solely responsible for its own obligations LCN-2949588-021220
Quote ID: 252645
7 Lincoln Financial Group® Privacy Practices Notice
What Does Lincoln Financial Group Do with Your Personal Information? The Lincoln Financial Group companies* are committed to protecting your privacy. To provide the products and services you expect from a financial services leader, we must collect personal information about you. We do not sell your personal information to third parties. This Notice describes our current privacy practices. While your relationship with us continues, we will update and send our Privacy Practices Notice as required by law. Even after that relationship ends, we will continue to protect your personal information.
You do not need to take any action because of this Notice, but you do have certain rights as described below.
We are committed to the responsible use of information and protecting individual privacy rights. As such, we look to leading data protection standards to guide our privacy program. These standards include collecting data through fair and lawful means, such as obtaining your consent when appropriate.
Financial companies choose how they share your personal information. Federal and state law gives consumers the right to limit some but not all sharing. Federal law also requires us to tell you how we collect, share, and protect your personal information. Please read this carefully to understand what we do.
Information We May Collect And Use
We collect personal information about you:
• to help us identify you as a consumer, our customer or our former customer; • to process your requests and transactions;
• to offer investment, insurance, retirement and other financial services to you; • to pay your claim;
• to analyze in order to enhance our products and services; • to tell you about our products or services we believe you may want and use; and • as otherwise permitted by law.
The types of personal information we collect depend on your relationship and on the products or services you request and may include the following:
• Information from you: When you submit your application or other forms, you give us information such as your name; address; Social Security number; your financial health; and employment history. We may also collect voice recordings or biometric data for use in accordance with applicable law.
• Information about your transactions: We maintain information about your transactions with us, such as the products you buy from us; the amount you paid for those products; your account balances; payment details and your payment and claims history. • Information from outside our family of companies: If you are applying for or purchasing insurance products, we may collect information from consumer reporting agencies, such as your credit history; credit scores; and driving and employment records.
With your authorization, we may also collect information (such as medical information, retirement information, and information related to Social Security benefits), from other individuals or businesses. • Information from your employer: If your employer applies for or purchases group products from us, we may obtain information about you from your employer or group representative in order to enroll you in the plan.
When you are no longer our customer, we continue to share your information as described in this notice.
How We Share and Use Your Personal Information
We may share your personal information within our companies and with certain service providers. They may use this information:
• to process transactions you, your employer, or your group representative have requested; • to provide customer service;
• to analyze in order to evaluate or enhance our products and services; • to gain customer insight; to provide education and training to our workforce and customers; and/or • to inform you of products or services we offer that you may find useful.
Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation and its affiliates.
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8 Our service providers may or may not be affiliated with us. Affiliates are companies related by common ownership or control.
Nonaffiliates are companies not related by common ownership or control. They include:
• Financial service providers: third party administrators; broker-dealers; insurance agents and brokers; registered representatives; reinsurers and other financial services companies with which we have joint marketing agreements. A joint marketing agreement is a formal agreement between nonaffiliated financial companies that together market financial products or services to you. Our joint marketing partners include, but are not limited to, insurance providers and financial technology solutions.
• Non-financial companies and individuals: consultants; vendors; and companies that perform marketing services on our behalf.
Information we obtain from a report prepared by a service provider may be kept by the service provider and shared with other persons; however, we require our service providers to protect your personal information and to use or disclose it only for the work they are performing for us, or as permitted by law. We may execute agreements with our service providers that permit the service provider to process your personal information outside of the United States, when not prohibited by our contracts and permitted by applicable law.
When you apply for one of our products:
• We may share information about your application with credit bureaus. • We may provide information to group policy owners or their designees (for example, to your employer for employer- sponsored plans and their authorized service providers).
• We may provide information to regulatory authorities, law enforcement officials, and to other nonaffiliated or affiliated parties as permitted by law.
• In the event of a sale of all or part of our businesses, we may share customer information as part of the sale. • We do not sell or release your information to outside marketers who may want to offer you their own products and services unless we receive your express consent; nor do we release information we receive about you from a consumer reporting agency.
All financial companies need to share customers’ personal information to run their everyday business. In the section below, we list the reasons financial companies can share their customers’ personal information; the reasons Lincoln chooses to share; and whether you can limit this sharing.
Reasons we can share your personal information Does Lincoln share? Can you limit this sharing?
For our everyday business purposes—such as to process
your transactions, maintain your account(s), respond to court orders and legal investigations, or report to credit bureaus Yes No
For our marketing purposes—to offer our products and
services to you
Yes No
For joint marketing with other financial companies Yes Yes For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—information about your transactions and experiences
Yes No
For our affiliates’ everyday business purposes—information about your creditworthiness
No We Don’t Share
For our affiliates to market to you Yes Yes
For nonaffiliates to market to you Yes Yes
Federal law gives you the right to limit only:
• sharing for affiliates’ everyday business purposes – information about your creditworthiness • affiliates from using your information to market to you • sharing for nonaffiliates to market to you
State laws and individual companies may give you additional rights to limit sharing. California residents can review our CCPA Privacy Notice located at https://www.lincolnfinancial.com/public/general/privacy/ccpa.
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9 Security of Information
We have an important responsibility to keep your information safe. We use safeguards to protect your information from unauthorized disclosure. To protect your personal information from unauthorized access and use, we use security measures that comply with federal law. These measures include computer safeguards and secured files and buildings. Our employees are authorized to access your information only when they need it to perform their job responsibilities. Employees who have access to your personal information are required to keep it confidential. Employees are required to complete privacy training annually.
Your Rights Regarding Your Personal Information
This Privacy Notice describes how you can exercise your rights regarding your personal information. Lincoln complies with all applicable laws and regulations regarding the provision of personal information. The rights provided to you in this Privacy Notice will be administered in accordance with your state’s specific laws and regulations.
Access to personal information: You must submit a written request to receive a copy of your personal information. You may see your personal information in person, or you may ask us to send you a copy of your personal information by mail or electronically, whichever you prefer. We will need to verify your identity before we process the request. Within 30 business days of receiving your request, we will, depending on the specific request you make, (1) inform you of the nature and substance of the recorded personal information we have about you; (2) permit you to obtain a copy of your personal information; and (3) provide the identity (if recorded) of persons to whom we disclosed your personal information within two years prior to the request (if this information is not recorded, we will provide you with the names of those insurance institutions, agents, insurance support organizations or other persons to whom such information is normally disclosed). If you request a copy of your information by mail, we may charge you a fee for copying and mailing costs.
Changes to personal information: If you believe that your personal information is inaccurate or incomplete, you may ask us to correct,amend,ordeletetheinformation. Your request mustbein writingand must includethereasonyouarerequestingthechange.
We will respond within 30 business days from the date we receive your request.
If we make changes to your records as a result of your request, we will notify you in writing and we will send the updated information, at your request, to any person who may have received your personal information within the past two years. We will also send the updated information to any insurance support organization that gave us the information and any insurance support organization that systematically received personal information from us within the prior 7 years unless that support organization no longer maintains your personal information.
If we deny your request to correct, amend or delete your information, we will provide you with the reasons for the denial. You may write to us and concisely describe what you believe our records should say and why you disagree with our denial of your request to correct, amend, or delete that information. We will file this communication from you with the disputed information, identify the disputed information if it is disclosed, and provide notice of the disagreement to the persons and in the manner described in the paragraph above.
Basis for adverse underwriting decision: You may ask in writing for the specific reasons for an adverse underwriting decision.
An adverse underwriting decision is where we decline your application for insurance, offer to insure you at a higher than standard rate, or terminate your coverage.
Your state may provide for additional privacy protections under applicable laws. We will protect your information in accordance with these additional protections.
If you would like to act upon your rights regarding your personal information, please provide your full name, address and telephone number and either email your inquiry to our Data Subject Access Request Team at [email protected] or mail to: Lincoln Financial Group, Attn: Corporate Privacy Office, 1301 South Harrison St., Fort Wayne, IN 46802. The [email protected] email address should only be used for inquiries related to this Privacy Notice. For general account service requests or inquiries, please call 1-877-ASKLINC. *This information applies to the following Lincoln Financial Group companies:
First Penn-Pacific Life Insurance Company
York Lincoln Financial Distributors, Inc.
Lincoln Financial Group Trust Company
Lincoln Investment Advisors Corporation
Lincoln Life & Annuity Company of New
Lincoln Life Assurance Company of Boston
Lincoln Retirement Services Company, LLC
Lincoln Variable Insurance Products Trust
The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
**This Notice is effective 14 calendar days after it is made available on Lincoln’s website, www.LFG.com/privacy.
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10 Lincoln Financial Group® Privacy Notice for Protected Health Information
THIS NOTICE DESCRIBES HOW MEDICAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOU MAY BE USED AND DISCLOSED AND HOW YOU CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS INFORMATION. PLEASE REVIEW IT CAREFULLY.
You have received this Notice because you have applied for, or currently have, insurance coverage or an annuity (“Coverage”), that contains benefit provisions subject to the federal privacy regulations that were issued as a result of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, as amended (“HIPAA”), such as a dental plan, vision plan, or a life or annuity product with a long-term care policy (including a long-term care rider). This is Coverage that has been or will be issued by or through one of the Lincoln Financial Group insurance companies* (“Company”). Some insurance coverage and annuities (e.g., disability plans) are not subject to this Notice. If you have questions as to whether this Notice applies to you, please contact us using the contact information below. This Noticesometimes refers tothe Companybyusingtheterms “us,” “we,”or “our.” Wevalueour relationship withyouandarecommitted to protecting the confidentiality and security of information we collect about you, especially health information.
We collect, use and disclose information about you to evaluate and process any requests for Coverage and claims for benefits you may make regarding your Coverage. This Notice describes how we protect the individually identifiable health information we have about you which relates to your Coverage (“Protected Health Information”), and how we may use and disclose this information.
Protected Health Information includes individually identifiable information that relates to your past, present or future health, treatment or payment for health care services. This Notice also describes your rights with respect to the Protected Health Information and how you can exercise those rights.
We are required by law to maintain the privacy of your Protected Health Information; to provide you this Notice of our legal duties and privacy practices with respect to your Protected Health Information; and to follow the terms of this Notice.
The Company reserves the right to change this Notice at any time. We can make any changes effective for Protected Health Information we already have about you, as well as any Protected Health Information we receive in the future. If the revised Notice contains material changes, we will send you the revised Notice, as well as post it on the Company internet sites.
Uses and Disclosures of your Protected Health Information The following describes when we may use and disclose your Protected Health Information with your written authorization and without your authorization:
Authorization: Except as described below, we will not use or disclose your Protected Health Information for any reason unless we have a signed authorization from you or your legal representative to use or disclose your Protected Health Information. For example, we will not share your information for marketing purposes (other than face-to-face communications or for promotional gifts of nominal value) or allow for the sale of your information without your authorization. An authorization to use or disclose any psychotherapy notes we may have will specifically state that it is an authorization for psychotherapy notes. You or your legal representative has the right to revoke an authorization in writing, except to the extent that we have taken action relying on the authorization or if the authorization was obtained as a condition of obtaining your Coverage.
Treatment: We may use and disclose your Protected Health Information for your treatment. For instance, a doctor or health facility involved in your care may request Protected Health Information that we hold about you in order to make decisions about your care.
Payment of Claims: We may use and disclose your Protected Health Information to obtain premiums and pay for benefits under your Coverage. For example, when you present a claim for benefits, we may obtain medical records from the doctor or health facility involved in your care to determine if you are eligible for benefits under the insurance policy and to reimburse you for services provided.
Other payment-related uses and disclosures that are permitted and we may engage in include: making claim decisions, coordinating benefits with other insurers or payers, utilization review activities including precertification and preauthorization of services, billing, premium and claims management, collection activities, obtaining payment under a contract for reinsurance, and related health care data processing.
Health Care Operations: We may use and disclose your Protected Health Information for our insurance operations. Our insurance operations may include underwriting, enrollment, premium rating, and other activities related to the issuance, renewal or replacement of Coverage, or for reinsurance purposes. For example, when you apply for insurance, we may collect medical information from your doctor (health care provider) or a medical facility that provided you health care services to determine if you qualify for insurance.
We may also use and disclose Protected Health Information to conduct or arrange for medical review, legal services, contract for reinsurance, business planning and development, or auditing, including fraud and abuse detection and compliance programs.
Protected Health Information may also be disclosed for business management and general administrative activities, including customer service, servicing our current and future customer relationships as permitted by law, resolution of internal grievances and Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation and its affiliates.
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11 as part of a potential sale, transfer, merger, or consolidation in order to make an informed business decision regarding any such prospective transaction. Protected Health Information may also be disclosed for the health care operations of the entity that receives the information, as long as the entity has a relationship with you and the Protected Health Information pertains to such relationship.
For group plans, Protected Health Information may be collected from or disclosed to (1) your Plan Sponsor for purposes of obtaining coverage or administering your Plan or (2) any other health plan maintained by your employer to facilitate claims payments under the plan. If we use or disclose Protected Health Information for underwriting purposes, the Protected Health Information used or disclosed for that purpose will not include information that constitutes genetic information except when permitted by law.
Business Associates: We may also disclose Protected Health Information to non-affiliated business associates of ours, but only if the business associate’s receipt of Protected Health Information is necessary to provide a service to us and the business associate agrees to protect the Protected Health Information in accordance with, and use it, only as allowed by, HIPAA. Examples of business associates are: billing companies, data processing companies, auditors, claims processing companies and companies that provide general administrative services.
Uses and Disclosures to Family, Friends or Others Involved in Your Care: Unless you object or direct us otherwise, we may disclose your Protected Health Information to a designated member of your family, friend, or other individual that you may identify as involved in your care or involved in the payment for your care. Should you become incapacitated, deceased, or be in an emergency medical situation and not able to provide us with your approval, we may disclose Protected Health Information about you that is directly relevant to such person’s involvement in your care or payment for such care.
Whistleblowers: We strive to comply with all applicable laws and encourage our workforce to speak up if they have concerns about our business practices. If a member of our workforce believes in good faith that we have engaged in unlawful or unprofessional conduct or that our services, care, or conditions could endanger someone, we allow that person to disclose Protected Health Information to (i) a health oversight agency or public health authority authorized to investigate the conduct or (ii) an attorney retained by the employee or business associate for purposes of determining legal options with respect to the aforementioned conduct.
Workforce Member Crime Victims: We may disclose Protected Health Information to a law enforcement official when our employee is the victim of a criminal act, provided the Protected Health Information is about the suspected perpetrator and the information is limited.
Where Required by Law, for Public Health or Similar Activities: We may also disclose Protected Health Information where required or permitted by law, for public health or similar activities, the protection of you or others, legal proceedings and other reasons as provided in the HIPAA regulations. Examples of disclosures that may be required or permitted by law include releasing Protected Health Information:
• To state or local health authorities, as required by law, of particular communicable diseases, injury, birth, death, and for other required public health investigations;
• To a governmental agency or regulator with health care oversight responsibilities. These oversight activities include audits, investigations, inspections, licensure or disciplinary actions and other activities necessary for the government to monitor the health care system, government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid and compliance with civil rights laws; • To a coroner or medical examiner to assist in identifying a deceased individual or to determine the cause of death or to a funeral director;
• To public health or other appropriate authorities, as required by law, or when there is reason to suspect abuse, neglect, or domestic violence;
• To the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for purposes related to quality, safety or effectiveness of FDA-regulated products or activities;
• If required by law to do so by a court or administrative tribunal for law enforcement purposes as permitted by law, and to comply with a subpoena or discovery request. When a subpoena or discovery request is issued by someone other than a judge, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you of such requests or to obtain an order protecting the Protected Health Information requested. We may disclose Protected Health Information to any governmental agency or regulator with whom you have filed a complaint or as part of a regulatory agency examination; • To law enforcement to identify or locate a suspect, fugitive, material witness or missing person; if an individual is the victim or suspected victim of a crime, but only under certain conditions; if the individual dies and we suspect that death resulted from criminal conduct;
• For certain research purposes when the information has been completely deidentified or when such research is approved by an institutional review board with established rules to ensure privacy or by a privacy board with members who have appropriate professional competency with privacy rights;
• If you are a member of the military (including a foreign military) as deemed necessary by armed forces services; • To federal officials for intelligence, counterintelligence, and other national security activities authorized by law or for the conduct of investigations or the provision of protective services to the President, foreign heads of state, or others; • To worker’s compensation agencies if necessary for your worker’s compensation benefit determination; Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation and its affiliates.
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12 • To avert a serious threat to someone’s health or safety, including the disclosure of Protected Health Information to government or private disaster relief or assistance agencies to allow such entities to carry out their responsibilities to specific disaster situations;
• To organizations that manage organ procurement or organ, eye or tissue transplant or to an organ donation bank, as necessary to facilitate organ or tissue donation and transplant;
• To a correctional institution or law enforcement official if necessary (1) for the provision of health care; (2) to protect your health and safety or the health and safety of others; or (3) for the safety, security, and good order of the correctional institution.
State Law Restrictions: State laws may be more stringent and may prohibit certain uses and disclosures identified in this Notice.
When state law is more protective of your privacy, we will follow that state law. For example, some state laws require additional protection for records related to mental health treatment, drug and alcohol treatment, and HIV-related information. If you have a question about how we comply with your state’s laws, please contact us using the information below.
Required Disclosures
The following is a description of two specific disclosures of your Protected Health Information that we are required to make.
Government Audits. Wearerequiredtodiscloseyour Protected HealthInformationtothe Secretaryof the United States Department of Health and Human Services when the Secretary is investigating or determining our compliance with HIPAA.
Disclosures to You. When you request, we are required to disclose to you the portion of your Protected Health Information that contains medical records, billing records, and any other records used to make decisions regarding your health care benefits. We are also required, when requested by you, to provide you with an accounting of most disclosures of your Protected Health Information if the disclosure was for reasons other than for payment, treatment, or health care operations, and if the Protected Health Information was not disclosed pursuant to your individual authorization. Please refer to the further description of your right to receive an accounting below. When permitted by applicable law, we may also contact you for case management or care coordination purposes to provide information about treatment alternatives or other health-related benefits or services that may be of interest to you.
YOUR RIGHTS REGARDING YOUR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION You have the following rights as a consumer under HIPAA concerning the Protected Health Information we have about you in our records. Any request to exercise your rights as described below should be made in writing and sent to Lincoln Financial Group, Attn: Corporate Privacy Office - 1301 South Harrison Street, Fort Wayne IN 46802. Also, should you wish to terminate a request for a restriction that has been accommodated, such termination request must also be in writing and sent to the same address listed above. Your request to exercise the rights described below should include the following information: your full name, address, and policy number. Generally, we will respond to these requests within 30 days of receipt.
Right to Request Restrictions: You have the right to request that we restrict or limit our use or disclosure of your Protected Health Information that would otherwise be permitted for purposes related to treatment, payment or our health care operations, including disclosure to someone who may be involved in your care or payment for your care, like a family member, or friend. While we will consider your request, we are not required to agree to your restriction. If we do agree to the restriction, we will restrict the use or disclosure of your Protected Health Information as requested, but we reserve the right to terminate the agreed to restriction if we deem appropriate. In your request to restrict use and disclosure, you must tell us (1) what information you want to limit; (2) whether you want to limit our use, disclosure or both; and (3) to whom you want the limits to apply (for example, disclosures to your spouse or parent). We will not agree to restrictions on Protected Health Information uses or disclosures that are legally required or which are necessary to administer our business.
Right to Request Confidential Communications: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about Protected Health Information in a certain way or using a certain address or email address, if you make such a request in writing,send it to the address provided above, and clearly state that the disclosure of the information could endanger you. Your request must specify how or where you wish to be contacted. We will accommodate all reasonable requests.
Right to Inspect and Copy Your Protected Health Information: In most instances, you have the right to inspect and obtain a copy of the Protected Health Information that we maintain about you. Your request must be in writing and sent to the address provided above. We will deny inspection and copying of certain Protected Health Information, for example psychotherapy notes and Protected Health Information collected by us in connection with, or in reasonable anticipation of, any legal claim or legal proceeding. We reserve the right to charge a fee for the costs of copying, mailing or other supplies associated with your request. In those limited circumstances that we deny your request to inspect and obtain a copy of your Protected Health Information, you may have the right to request a review of our denial. Your request to review our denial should be submitted in writing and sent to the address provided above. If the information you request is maintained electronically and you request an electronic copy, we will provide a copy in the electronic form and format you request, if the information can be readily produced in that form and format. If the information cannot Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation and its affiliates.
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13 be readily produced in that form and format, we will work with you to come to an agreement on an alternative electronic form and format. If we cannot agree on an electronic form and format, we will provide you with a paper copy.
Right to Amend Your Protected Health Information: Youhavetheright torequest that weamendyour Protected HealthInformation in our records if you believe it is inaccurate or incomplete. Your request must be in writing and sent to the address provided above.
Your request must provide your reason(s) for seeking the amendment or correction. We will act on your request no later than 60 days after the receipt of the request, by requesting an extension, granting the amendment, in whole or in part, or denying the request, in whole or in part. We may request a single 30-day extension, to agree to accept the request, in whole or in part, or deny the request to amend PHI, in whole or in part. If an amendment or correction request is accepted, we will amend or correct all appropriate records as well as make reasonable efforts to notify others to whom we have disclosed the erroneous Protected Health Information. We may deny your request if you ask us to amend Protected Health Information that is accurate and complete; was not created by us, unless the creator of the Protected Health Information is no longer available to make the amendment; is not part of the Protected Health Information kept by or for us; or is not part of the Protected Health Information which you would be permitted to inspect and copy. If we deny your request, in whole or in part, the notice of denial will explain the basis for the denial. You have the right to file a statement of disagreement with us and any future disclosures of your Protected Health Information will include your statement.
If we are informed by another organization of an amendment to your Protected Health Information, we must amend the Protected Health Information in your record.
Right to Receive an Accounting of Disclosures of Your Protected Health Information: You have the right to request an accounting or list of disclosures we have made of your Protected Health Information in the past six (6) years. This list will not include disclosures:
• For treatment;
• For payment or health care operations;
• To law enforcement, for purposes of national security; • To department of corrections personnel;
• Pursuant to your authorization;
• Incidental to a permitted disclosure;
• To certain persons involved in an individual’s care or payment for that care; • or directly to you.
To request this list, you must submit your request in writing to the address provided above. Your request must state the time period from which you want to receive a list of disclosures. The time period may not be longer than six years. Your request should indicate in what form you want the accounting (e.g., paper or electronic). The first list you request within a 12-month period will be free. We reserve the right to charge you for responding to any additional requests within that 12-month period. We will notify you of the cost involved and you may choose to withdraw or modify your request at that time before any costs are incurred.
Right to be Notified of a Breach: You have the right to be notified in the event that we (or our business associate) discover a breach of your unsecured Protected Health Information.
Right to a Paper Copy of this Notice: You have the right to obtain a paper copy of this Notice upon request, even if you agreed to receive this Notice electronically.
Right to File a Complaint: If you believe your privacy rights have been violated, you may file a complaint with us, by sending it to the address listed below. You may also file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) Office of Civil Rights. If you send your complaint to HHS by mail or fax, you should send it to the regional office of the HHS Office of Civil Rights covering the area where the potential violation occurred. You can find more information about how to file a complaint with HHS, including the addresses of the regional offices of the HHS Office of Civil Rights on the HHS website: http://www.hhs. gov/ocr/privacy/ hipaa/complaints/index.html. Or, complaints may be sent to HHS by email to: [email protected]. The Company supports your right to protect the privacy of your Protected Health Information. No action will be taken against you for filing a complaint.
For Further Information: For further information regarding this Notice or the Company’s privacy practices, please contact Lincoln Financial Group, Attn: Corporate Privacy Office - 1301 South Harrison Street, Fort Wayne IN 46802, or call 1-877-275-5462.
Effective Date: This Notice is effective November 9, 2021. *This information applies to the following Lincoln Financial Group companies:
First Penn-Pacific Life Insurance Company
Lincoln Life & Annuity Company of New York
The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company
Lincoln Financial Group is the marketing name for Lincoln National Corporation and its affiliates.
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