Topical Legal & Policy Research

Private Insurance

U.S. Department of Labor: Employment Benefits Security Administration

What: The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) of the U.S. Department of Labor administers and enforces the fiduciary, reporting, and disclosure provisions of Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). The EBSA seeks to protect the integrity of pensions, health plans, and other employee benefits. [1] The EBSA Web site provides excellent employee health benefit fact sheets and information for consumers. Additionally, the Web site has several quick links to relevant statutes, regulations, Executive Orders, and current rulemaking proposals.
How to search: The EBSA Web site contains an abundance of useful information regarding ERISA and employment benefit-related law. The research tools below provide only a sampling of features (of interest to advocates) of the Web site.

By Topic - Often it is helpful to begin research by scanning an index of topics. On the EBSA Web site users may browse by topic and subtopic, including Consumer Information on Health Plans, Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), and Portability of Health Coverage (HIPAA).
Federal Register Quick Links - Provides EBSA specific rulemaking information from the Federal Register. Users may find Proposed Rules, recent Final Rules, Notices of proposed rulemaking and meetings (organized by date), information about past Meetings, and information about obtaining Public Comments submitted during rulemaking process.
Advisory Opinions, Interpretation Letters, and Field Assistance Bulletins - The Office of Regulations and Interpretations of EBSA accepts inquiries from organizations and individuals regarding clarification of, or application of specific facts to, applicable laws. EBSA then issues advisory opinions or interpretation letters. Field Assistance Bulletins provide compliance assistance information to employers and employee benefit plan officials regarding the requirements of ERISA. Users may search advisory opinions by browsing lists organized by year.
Exemptions Quick Links - Users may access exemption decisions and information regarding Individual Exemptions (listed by year), Class Exemptions, and EXPRO Exemptions. For further information about ERISA exemptions, users may access the Exemption Procedures Under Federal Pension Law booklet.
COBRA Benefits - The EBSA Web site provides access to General Information and Frequently Asked Questions regarding COBRA. As well, users may find the EBSA Technical Release on COBRA and COBRA Manual (PDF) helpful.

Helpful hints: The EBSA Web Site provides a wealth of employment benefit-related law links. Of particular usefulness, the ERISA and employment benefit specific Federal Register links make tracking regulatory action easy. Additionally, the Health Plans and Pension Plans consumer educational pages provide fact sheets, information on claims and appeals, and recent changes in healthcare. To find an EBSA Regional Office in your area, your state on the office locator map.
Other Web sites: Many EBSA resources are specific to their Web site, but other sites to search include:

[1] See EBSA's mission statement at http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/aboutebsa/org_chart.html#mission.