Practice Area - ERISA

ERISA, which stands for the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, is a federal law that protects the rights of participants and beneficiaries of employer- or union-sponsored benefit plans. ERISA controls or impacts almost all employee benefits plans, including employer-sponsored health and disability plans. ERISA requires benefit plans to clearly spell out your rights and responsibilities as a plan participant and to set forth the procedures that must be followed to secure benefits. This information is obtained in your Summary Plan Description, which must be provided to you by law. It is important to obtain a copy of your Summary Plan Description as soon as you become a plan participant and to read it carefully. If you fail to follow the procedures spelled out in the Summary Plan Description for filing a claim and/or reviewing a denied claim, you can lose your right to file a law suit in court. ERISA provides participants and beneficiaries with the right to sue plans for wrongfully denying benefits, but only if the procedures set out in the Summary Plan Description have been carefully followed.

If you have an issue related to benefits that are provided by your employer or union, you need a law firm that handles ERISA cases and has the resources and expertise required to navigate this complex area of law. You can trust Jester & Jenkins to work for you to obtain the best resolution promptly and efficiently.