Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)

Federal legislation enacted in 1974 that protects pension rights of employees, prohibits states from applying specific mandates to self-insured group health benefit plans, and shields self-insured employers from paying premium taxes, which insurance companies and managed care plans must do. Additional ERISA provisions require that health plans provide a description of the benefits of the plan, identify the persons responsible for operating the plan, explain the arrangements for funding and amending the plan, provide an explanation of benefits (EOB) when a claim is denied, and provide information on members’ rights of appeal if a claim has been denied. The Department of Labor administers the law. Also called the Pension Reform Act .

Employee trustees

Employees appointed as trustees of their employer’s occupational pension scheme. Dismissal or redundancy is treated as unfair if prompted by the performance of their trustee duties. They do not have to be member-nominated employees to benefit from the protection under the Employment Rights Act 1996.