However, the district court had jurisdiction to consider whether the claim was completely preempted by ERISA. See id. at 943 n.7. If a claim is completely preempted by ERISA, then the claim arises under federal law within the meaning of 28 U.S.C. § 1331. See, e.g., Toumajian v. Frailey, 135 F.3d 7029 648, 655 (9th Cir. 1998). The district court was obligated to consider complete preemption to determine whether a federal question existed. If the state claim were completely preempted, the district court would have had federal question jurisdiction over the claim and would not have had discretion to dismiss the claim instead without prejudice. See, e.g., New Orleans Pub. Serv., Inc. v. Council of New Orleans , 491 U.S. 350, 359 (1989) ("[T]he federal courts' obligation to adjudicate claims within their jurisdiction [is] virtually unflagging." (internal quotation marks omitted)). On the other hand, if the claim were not completely preempted, the court would be free to dismiss without prejudice under the supplemental jurisdiction statute. See 28 U.S.C. § 1367(c); see also Acri v. Varian Assocs., 114 F.3d 999, 1000 (9th Cir. 1997) (en banc). The district court consequently had jurisdiction to consider complete preemption.