ERISA law requires a claimant to exhaust all appeals avenues before they can bring a lawsuit against the insurance company. The intent of ERISA is to protect employees' rights to receive employment welfare benefits.Compare the best ERISA lawyers near Oakland, CA today. Use our free directory to instantly connect with verified ERISA attorneys. ERISA's notion of a "health plan" (a distinct legal entity created when an employer promises to provide and pay for employee health benefits) is often confusing. This document, the complete contents of the Employee Gateway (employees.usc. ERISA WRAp SERvIcES. ERISA is a federal law that regulates group- sponsored benefits, often called welfare benefit plans. This law sets out strict guidelines that employers must follow in regard to fairly offering benefits, adhering to policies, and much more. Example 1: Erisa is the office manager at an insurance brokerage in San Lorenzo.