ERISA Plan Analysis

Know Exactly What You’re Dealing with Before You Negotiate

Download the ERISA Plan Funding Status Checklist

Read our Blog: Self-Funded vs. Fully Insured: Why This Distinction Can Save Your Client Thousands

Download the Determining ERISA Plan Funding Status White Paper

Request a Plan Analysis

The Critical Question Most Legal Professionals Skip

Is the plan self-funded or fully insured? This single question determines your entire resolution strategy. Self-funded plans operate under ERISA preemption and the McCutchen holding. Fully insured plans may be subject to state subrogation laws that dramatically limit recovery. Recovery vendors don’t always distinguish between the two. When you accept their funding status without verification, you could be leaving significant money on the table.

How Synergy Analyzes ERISA Plans

Our plan analysis process ensures you know exactly what you’re working with:

Document Acquisition: We send 1024(b)(4) requests directly to plan administrators and track compliance deadlines.

Funding Status Verification: We review SPDs, plan documents, and Form 5500s to definitively determine self-funded vs. fully insured status.

Reimbursement Provision Analysis: We identify gaps, ambiguities, and missing disclaimers in plan language.

Strategy Recommendation: We provide a clear path forward based on verified plan characteristics and applicable law.

Free Resource: ERISA Plan Funding Status Checklist

Download our step-by-step checklist for determining ERISA plan funding status. Includes:

1024(b)(4) request template
Document review checklist
Self-funded vs. fully insured indicators
Compliance deadline tracker
Strategy decision tree

Why Verification Matters

A law firm came to us with what appeared to be a straightforward $78,000 ERISA lien. They had already negotiated it to $62,000 and were ready to pay. We obtained the plan documents and discovered the plan was fully insured, not self-funded. Under applicable state law, the made-whole doctrine applied. Final resolution: $15,000. The client kept an additional $47,000.

Over 50% of plans we analyze are mischaracterized by vendors
25-30% average additional savings when funding status is correctly identified

Get a Plan Analysis

Send us your ERISA lien, and we’ll verify funding status, review plan language, and provide a clear recommendation. If there’s an opportunity for better results, we’ll find it.

TESTIMONIALS

“Synergy Settlement Services offered clear and prompt guidance on their lien reduction services. Their team members were easy to work with and offered candid advice at every step on how to maximize our client’s settlement. Their work is much appreciated, and we recommend Synergy for lien reduction services.”

“Synergy’s focus on these liens allows our office to better represent our clients, by allowing us to focus on what we do best – litigation. Further, Synergy’s expertise in the Medicare and lien world provides a sense of security for the client and us as attorneys to ensure we are providing the client the best advise possible.”

“We fought numerous defendants to obtain a record‑breaking settlement but, in the end, it was Synergy who stepped up to help my office protect our client’s settlement proceeds. After obtaining millions of dollars from five different defendants, we were left with an ERISA medical insurance lien that refused to compromise and wanted 100% reimbursement. I attempted to negotiate with them, and they refused to accept any reductions whatsoever. Our client suffered a serious brain injury and there was no way we wanted an insurance company to get paid back in full. Synergy went to work on them and in short order they obtained a major reduction in the ERISA lien, putting substantially more money in my client’s pocket.”

“We were able to save our clients millions of dollars through Synergy’s healthcare lien resolution program."

“Newsome Melton has worked with Synergy for many years. Time and time again, Synergy has proven to be a great partner, committed to going above and beyond to maximize our clients’ net recovery.”

READY TO SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION?

The Synergy team will work diligently to ensure your case gets the attention it deserves. Contact one of our legal experts and get a professional review of your case today.

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