Acosta v. Board of Trustees of UNITE HERE Health

**ERISA Health Plan Benefits Dispute** This case involved a dispute over health plan benefits administered by the Board of Trustees of UNITE HERE Health, a union-sponsored health fund. The Department of Labor sued the trustees, claiming they violated federal law (ERISA) by improperly managing the health plan and wrongfully denying benefits to workers and their families. The government alleged the trustees breached their legal duty to act in the best interests of plan participants. The court issued a mixed decision in March 2023. Some claims against the trustees were upheld, particularly regarding how they administered the plan and handled benefit denials. However, other claims were dismissed or decided in favor of the trustees. The court found problems with certain aspects of the plan's management but didn't rule entirely against the fund administrators. **What This Means for Workers:** This ruling reinforces that health plan administrators must follow strict rules when managing benefits and cannot arbitrarily deny legitimate claims. Workers covered by union health plans have legal protections under ERISA, and the Department of Labor will take action when trustees fail to properly manage these benefits. If you believe your health benefits have been wrongfully denied, you may have legal recourse.