One feature of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) is that it:

Requires self-funded employee benefit plans to pay premium taxes at the state level.

Contains a pre-emption provision, which typically makes the terms of ERISA take precedence over any state laws that regulate employee welfare benefit plans.

Contains strict reporting and disclosure requirements for all employee benefit plans except health plans.

Requires that state insurance laws apply to all employee benefit plans except insured plans.