{"id":357889,"date":"2016-04-04T10:45:32","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/employment\/wages-and-benefits\/workers-right-to-health-plan-information.html"},"modified":"2025-05-07T09:35:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T14:35:47","slug":"workers-right-to-health-plan-information","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/wages-and-benefits\/workers-right-to-health-plan-information.html","title":{"rendered":"Workers’ Right to Health Plan Information"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Workers' Right to Health Plan Information<\/h1>\n
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\n By Christie Nicholson, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

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Federal law requires most private sector companies to provide detailed information about employee health plans. This includes plan benefits, employee rights, and important processes. ERISA ensures that both current and former employees, as well as part-time workers meeting specific hour thresholds, are well-informed about their health coverage options and rights. <\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act<\/a> (ERISA) governs approximately 2.5 million private-sector health benefit plans in the U.S. These plans provide a wide range of medical, surgical, hospital, and other health care benefits to over 130 million Americans.<\/p>\r\n

Under ERISA, workers and their families must receive a copy of the Summary Plan Description (SPD) from their health plan’s provider. The SPD offers information about the plan, its benefits, the rights of participants and beneficiaries<\/a>, and how the plan works.<\/p>\r\n

This article explains employees’ rights to information on their health plans<\/a>, including their right to updated SPDs and notice of any changes to the plan.<\/p>\r\n

If you’re having issues with your health insurance plan, start by contacting your benefits coordinator. They’ll typically be part of your employer’s human resources department.<\/p>\r\n

However, if your employer is not meeting their obligations or refuses to provide information, consider contacting an employment law attorney<\/a> for help. They can evaluate the facts of your case and help you decide what to do next.<\/p>\r\n

How Does ERISA Protect American Workers?<\/h2>\r\n

ERISA is a federal law that requires companies that manage and control private sector employee health plans to provide plan participants with specific information regarding their health insurance. If a plan fails to comply with ERISA, plan participants and their family members can sue for benefits and breach of fiduciary duty<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n

Specifically, ERISA covers the following:<\/p>\r\n