The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1794 may not be something everyone is quite familiar with; however, when it’s referred to as ERISA, more people have at least heard of it.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, ERISA “is a federal law that sets minimum standards for most voluntarily established pension and health plans in private industry to provide protection for individuals in these plans.” In the simplest of terms, ERISA governs benefits for employees.
ERISA doesn’t cover the health care plans offered to employees by government entities. Also, church retirement plans, workers’ compensation and unemployment are not covered. While private employers may have pension plans that are covered by ERISA, it is not required.
Our law firm deals specifically with ERISA as it pertains to benefits for long-term disability. In most instances, if your employer has a group disability insurance policy, then it is governed by ERISA. Some of the possible situations that might arise concerning group disability insurance where an attorney’s advice could prove valuable include:
— ERISA long-term disability claim handling
— Denied ERISA long-term disability claims
— ERISA long-term disability appeals
Understanding entitlements under group disability insurance is important. It is always good to know exactly where you stand should you become disabled. You may find that you need to file a claim, but the insurance company is all but ignoring you and your questions. Perhaps your claim has already been denied. These issues and more can be dealt with because you do have rights under ERISA. Even though you may have these rights, though, the insurance companies want nothing more than to keep their money and not give it to you.
As experienced attorneys in ERISA matters, we have developed strategies to help employees get the benefits they are due under group insurance benefit policies. Please visit our ERISA webpage to learn more.
Source: Darras Law, “ERISA Long-Term Disability Lawyers” Sep. 03, 2014