Number: RS22643
Title: Regulation of Health Benefits Under ERISA: An Outline
Authors: Jennifer Staman, American Law Division 
Abstract: The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) sets certain federal standards for the provision of health benefits under private-sector, employment-based health plans. These standards regulate the nature and content of health plans and include rules on health care continuation coverage, guarantees on the availability and renewability of health care coverage for certain employees and individuals, limitations on exclusions from health care coverage based on preexisting conditions, and parity between medical/surgical benefits and mental health benefits. This report discusses certain health benefit requirements under ERISA. It also provides a brief overview of proposed and enacted legislation in the 110th Congress that affects the provision of health benefits, including certain amendments made to ERISA by the newly enacted Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (included within P.L. 110-343) and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-233).
Pages: 6
Date: October 20, 2008