Partner
With approximately 30 years of experience, Monica R. Heath concentrates her practices on the administration of health and welfare plans and pension plans as well as related ERISA litigation. She has a diverse base of clients including multiemployer plans, single-employer plans and large and small employers.
Monica is involved in all aspects of health and welfare plans, including ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA and negotiating service provider agreements. She has a particular expertise in HIPAA where she has advised clients on issues ranging from the portability, wellness program, and guaranteed issue/renewability rules, to privacy, security, and electronic health records. Monica is equally recognized for her work on thorny issues arising under COBRA, the DOL’s claims appeals procedures rules and ERISA subrogation.
In the pension area, Monica concentrates her practice on qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs), survivor rights, recovery of overpayments and other aspects of administering QDROs.
Monica—a Staten Island native—maintains an active pro bono practice where she provides a wide range of diverse legal services to persons in need.
Significant Representations
- Counsel large employee benefit plans regarding QDRO administration and the recovery of plan asset overpayments.
- Defended Board of Trustees of a multiemployer annuity plan against breach of fiduciary duty claim involving the qualified joint and survivor form of benefit.
- Represented Board of Trustees of a multiemployer welfare plan in a U.S. Department of Labor audit involving HIPAA.
- Counsel large employee benefit plans on the administration of COBRA including the premium subsidy.
Affiliations
American Bar Association; Onondaga County Bar Association; New York State Bar Association; Central New York Women’s Bar Association