ERISA protects employees who participate in certain health and retirement plans at private organizations. The law applies to many types of employers, including sole proprietorships, S corporations, C corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships.
Common types of employer-sponsored retirement accounts that fall under ERISA include 401(k) plans, pensions, deferred-compensation plans, and profit-sharing plans. In addition, ERISA laws don't apply to simplified employee pension (SEP) IRAs or other IRAs.
Only employers who offer their employees retirement, health, or other employer-sponsored benefits must comply with ERISA requirements. Notwithstanding, government employers are not subject to ERISA even though they offer pensions and healthcare benefits as part of their compensation packages.
Anyone who works for a private-sector organization which sponsors retirement benefits such as pension plan or a 401(k) plan (or 403(b) for non-profits) receives an ERISA-governed benefit that becomes vested; i.e., non-forfeitable so long as the employee works for the employer for a sufficient number of years.
In general, retirement plans that are covered by ERISA are protected from creditors—and their lawsuits. A 401(k) is an ERISA-qualified plan, so it is likely protected if you get sued. There may be a few exceptions, such as charges brought by the federal government or if you allegedly wronged the plan.
ERISA requirements apply to all employer-based health plans, whether fully insured through a third party or self-funded. But, governmental plans offered by local, state, or federal governments are generally excepted from ERISA requirements.
Under ERISA, government plans, including those sponsored by federal, state, or local governments, are explicitly exempted from ERISA's provisions. See 29 USC §§ 1002(32) 29 and § 1003(b).
In general, ERISA does not cover plans established or maintained by governmental entities, churches for their employees, or plans which are maintained solely to comply with applicable workers compensation, unemployment or disability laws.
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or ERISA, protects the assets of millions of Americans so that funds placed in retirement plans during their working lives will be there when they retire. ERISA is a federal law that sets minimum standards for retirement plans in private industry.
All private employers and employee organizations, such as unions, that offer health plans to employees have to follow ERISA. Only churches and government groups are exempt. If you offer your employees health coverage, you'll have to follow certain rules and procedures as a result of ERISA.