Regulation of Health Benefits Under ERISA: An Outline
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Publication Date: April 2007
Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Author(s):
Research Area: Health
Type:
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, parity between medical/surgical benefits and mental health benefits, and minimum hospital stay requirements for mothers following the birth of a child. This report discusses certain health benefit requirements under ERISA, as well as proposed legislation in the 110th Congress that would affect the provision of health benefits.
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