Health Insurance

A group health plan is an employee welfare benefit plan established or maintained by an employer or by an employee organization (such as a union), or both, that provides medical care for participants or their dependents directly or through insurance, reimbursement, or otherwise.

Most private sector health plans are covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Among other things, ERISA provides protections, such as HIPAA confidentiality protection and COBRA continuation protection and COBRA premium reduction provisions as outlined in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), for participants and beneficiaries in employee benefit plans. Also, those individuals who manage plans (and other fiduciaries) must meet certain standards of conduct under the fiduciary responsibilities specified in the law.

The Department of Labor's Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) is responsible for administering and enforcing these provisions of ERISA. As part of carrying out its responsibilities, the agency provides consumer information on health plans, as well as compliance assistance for employers, plan service providers, and others to help them comply with ERISA.

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