"State law may authorize an individual to be the agent of an ERISA plan participant or beneficiary. This article discusses when ERISA permits such an individual, on behalf of the agent's principal, to: [1] pursue a benefit claim; [2] obtain plan or benefit information; [3] determine the time and form of benefit payment; [4] determine to whom the plan makes a benefit payment; [5] make beneficiary designations; ... [and take various other actions]. The article also discusses when ERISA and [HIPAA] permit a state-law agent to make healthcare decisions for the agent's principal in ERISA healthcare plans, or obtain information from a healthcare plan[.]"  MORE >>