Air Ambulance Ruling Severely Undermines No Surprises Act
Acting in response to consumer complaints about surprise medical bills, Congress enacted a law known as the No Surprises Act,[1] which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2022.[2] The law’s intent was to prevent surprise billing by requiring nonnetwork health providers to provide patients with an advanced explanation of benefits containing a good faith estimate of anticipated charges. […]
Understanding Government and Church Plan Exceptions to ERISA
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) is a landmark piece of legislation enacted in 1974 to safeguard the interests of employees who participate in retirement and health benefit plans offered by their employers. ERISA sets standards for these plans, ensuring transparency, fiduciary responsibility, and fairness in their administration. […]
9th Circ. Ruling Puts Teeth Into Mental Health Parity Claims
Although mental health parity claims have been proliferating in federal courts for more than a decade, it wasn’t until last year that a federal appeals court laid out pleading standards for mental health parity cases.[1] Another appellate decision has now joined the chorus. In Ryan S. v. UnitedHealth Group Inc.,[2] the U.S. Court of Appeals […]
Mastering U.S. Long-Term Disability Benefits Abroad
Many U.S. citizens and foreign nationals working abroad find themselves navigating the complex landscape of long-term disability (LTD) benefits. But does the ERISA law apply to U.S. residents living abroad or to non-U.S. residents living outside the United States? […]
The Benefit of Social Security and Veterans Disability Awards in ERISA-Governed Disability Benefit Claims
Claims involving disability benefits comprise a sizable portion, if not a majority, of cases litigated under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). [..]