ERISA (the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974) governs many of the employee benefits that impact our daily lives, including mental health coverage, long-term disability, retirement benefits, and life insurance. While it may not always receive the same attention as other areas of law, the stakes in ERISA matters are significant and often life changing.
The ERISA Watch Podcast, produced by Kantor & Kantor, LLP, provides insight into ERISA litigation, insurance disputes, and employee benefit claims, with a focus on the real-world impact these cases have on individuals and families.
Episodes feature in-depth discussions of complex cases, industry trends, and the human stories behind ERISA litigation.
This podcast was originally hosted by Elizabeth Hopkins during her time with the firm.
On this month’s episode our host Elizabeth Hopkins interviews Ed, a father whose daughter struggled with an eating disorder when she was a teenager over a decade ago. The family had to take out a second mortgage on their home in order to pay for life-saving treatment at a residential facility after their healthcare plan insurer refused to pay and they could obtain no help from the state agency tasked with regulating health insurance. A lot has changed since that time. But more remains t...
4 Feb 2022
A Tribute to Karen
This month’s episode is dedicated to Karen Ferguson, founder of the Pension Rights Center. The Pension Rights Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping people with their pension-related issues and advocating on their behalf. Our host, Elizabeth Hopkins, talks to Karen’s colleague, Norm Stein, about the Pension Rights Center and Karen’s legacy. To find out more about the Pension Rights Center and how you can help, click the link below. https://www.pensionrights.org/
3 Dec 2021
The Vig
On this special ERISA Watch episode, our host Elizabeth Hopkins examines the upcoming Supreme Court argument in the Hughes v. Northwestern University case, which will be held on Monday December 6, 2021. In Hughes, participants in a defined-contribution retirement plan allege the plan paid too much in fees for the investments offered, but the lower courts dismissed without even considering the merits of the case. Elizabeth speaks to Former Assistant Secretary of Labor, Phyllis Borzi, abo...
5 Nov 2021
Stigma and Substance Use Disorder
On this month’s episode, our host Elizabeth Hopkins shines a spotlight on America’s other pandemic, the opioid crisis. Even beyond the tens of thousands of deaths annually, the true effect of this wide-reaching crisis stretches far beyond calculable figures. The multifaceted problem of addiction can only be addressed when we begin with increasing empathy and rejecting the impulse to stigmatize. Elizabeth has a conversation with her colleague Elizabeth Green, and with Elizabeth’s clien...
1 Oct 2021
The Aftermath
In this special episode, host Elizabeth Hopkins acknowledges the 20th anniversary of September 11, 2001. This episode is also a check in on how well Congress is living up to its promises to more than 24,000 first responders and heroes. Introduced in 2006 and finally signed into law on January 2, 2011, the World Trade Center Health Program was designed to provide for the physical and mental healthcare for first responders. It should come as no surprise that the program was o...
6 Aug 2021
Treating to Recovery
In our 6th episode of ERISA Watch, our host Elizabeth Hopkins discusses one of the things that attracted her about the idea of coming to Kantor & Kantor after a very fulfilling time at the US Department of Labor. Liz appreciated the way the firm helps individuals and their families navigate getting the proper treatment they are promised from their employers through the insurance companies. Specifically, those living with eating disorders. Despite the existence of the Mental Health ...
2 Jul 2021
Independence
In a special 4th of July episode, host Elizabeth Hopkins takes some time to share her thoughts about freedom, equality and labor & employment law. Since July celebrates the day the draft of the Declaration of Independence was completed, Elizabeth took some time to re-read the document, which she calls one of the best breakup documents of all time, "full of hard truths and great one-liners." Upon reflection, Elizabeth asks if we are truly free. Can we truly pursue happiness if we are beh...
4 Jun 2021
Trust Me
This this episode of ERISA Watch, host Elizabeth Hopkins asks if insurance companies live up to the promise instilled through ERISA, or do they take advantage of the peculiarities of trust law to avoid paying benefits. In a short origin story of the concept of trust, courts of equity, and chancery law, Elizabeth tells how the federal law of ERISA grew out of these historical and societal concepts. To illustrate how these concepts that are governed by ERISA and state laws, Elizabeth has a co...
7 May 2021
The Cutting Edge
Here in the United States we have some of the best surgeons, specialists, and some of the best, most innovative treatments in the world. But when the company that runs your health plan refuses to authorize these treatments, what does this mean for the very progress of medicine in this country? In this episode of ERISA Watch, host Elizabeth Hopkins speaks with Aaron Monheim, a 34 year old husband and father of a three year old daughter. Aaron lives with Relapsing- remitting Multiple Sc...
2 Apr 2021
The Mental Health Parity Paradox
In this episode of ERISA Watch, host Elizabeth Hopkins asks: "When did modern Western medicine decide that mental health was something altogether different than health pertaining to anywhere else in the body?" First Liz speaks with Dr. Joshua Warach, MD, a Neurologist from the Veteran's Administration about their ongoing effort to treat the veterans as holistically as possible, and to de-stigmatize mental health issues. Should the V.A. be a model for commercial healthcare systems? In the ar...
5 Mar 2021
Uncovered in the Gig Economy
This premiere episode of ERISA Watch, host Elizabeth Hopkins discusses a real life example of how the federal law of ERISA works in the context of today's employee healthcare benefit environment. Elizabeth does this through a conversation with two clients, union members from the entertainment industry. These men lost access to their healthcare benefits through language and rules with their plans that are quirky at best. Listen to episode one to learn more about ERISA and ...
26 Feb 2021
ERISA Watch - Trailer
ERISA stands for the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and governs most of our employee benefits. While this area of law may not seem as engrossing as other areas of law such as criminal law, the impact labor laws have on our lives are just as compelling and the stakes are just as high. This law blankets areas such as mental health, eating disorders, our retirement accounts, life insurance, and more. Erisa watch will tell stories of individuals whose lives have been dramatically...
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