Glossary
Helping you make sense of the many acronyms in employee benefits.
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A
AV
Actuarial Value
ATNE
Average Total Number of Employees
ASA
Administrative Services Agreement
AHIP
America’s Health Insurance Plans
ADEA
Age Discrimination in Employment Act
AD&D
Accidental Death and Dismemberment
ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act
ACO
Accountable Care Organization
ACA
Affordable Care Act (also known as PPACA or HCR)
B
BAA
Business Associate Agreement
C
CY
Calendar Year
COBRA
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
COB
Coordination of Benefits
CMS
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
CLA
Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate
CFR
Code of Federal Regulations
CHIPRA
Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act
CER
Comparative Effectiveness Research
CDH
Consumer Directed Healthcare
CCIIO
Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight
CBO
Congressional Budget Office
CBA
Collective Bargaining Agreement
C&B
Contributions and Benefits
D
DOT
Dictionary of Occupational Titles
DOL
Department of Labor
DME
Durable Medical Equipment
DCAP
Dependent Care Assistance Program
E
ERISA
Employee Retirement Income Security Act
EOI
Evidence of Insurability
EOB
Explanation of Benefits
EMR
Electronic Medical Record
EIC
Earned Income Tax Credit
EHR
Electronic Health Record
EHB
Essential Health Benefits
EIDM
Enterprise Identity Management
EEOC
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
EBSA
Employee Benefits Security Administration
EBIA
Employee Benefits Institute of America
EAP
Employee Assistance Program
F
FTE
Full-Time Equivalent
FSA
Flexible Spending Arrangement
FPL
Federal Poverty Level
FOIA
Freedom of Information Act
FMLA
Family and Medical Leave Act
FLSA
Fair Labor Standards Act
FIE
Fully-Insured Equivalent
FICA
Federal Insurance Contribution Act
FFE
Federally Facilitated Exchange
G
GTL Insurance
Group Term Life Insurance
GLB
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act
GINA
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
GHP
Group Health Plan
H
HSA
Health Savings Account
HRSA
Health Resources and Services Administration
HRA
Health Reimbursement Arrangement
HMO
Health Maintenance Organization
HITECH
Health Information Technology for Economic & Clinical Health Act
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
HHS
Department of Health and Human Services
HDHP
High Deductible Health Plan
HDHC
High Deductible Health Coverage
HCTC
Health Coverage Tax Credit
HCRA
Health Care Reimbursement Account
HCR
Health Care Reform
HCFA
Health Care Financing Administration
HCE
Highly Compensated Employee
I
IRS
Internal Revenue Service
IRO
Independent Review Organization
IRC
Internal Revenue Code
IOM
Institute of Medicine
IBNR
Incurred But Not Reported
L
LTD
Long-Term Disability
LOA
Leave of Absence
M
MSP Rules
Medicare Secondary Payer Rules
MSA
Medical Savings Account
MMA
Medicare Modernization Act
MLR
Medical Loss Ratio
MHPAEA
Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
MEWA
Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement
MERP
Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan
MEG
Multiple Employer Group
N
NMHPA
Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act
NAIC
National Association of Insurance Commissioners
O
OOP
Out Of Pocket
OMB
Office of Management and Budget
OHCA
Organized Health Care Arrangement
OCR
Office for Civil Rights
P
PY
Plan Year
PYA
First Plan Year Beginning On Or After
PPO
Preferred Provider Organization
PPACA
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
POP
Premium Only Plan
PHSA
Public Health Service Act
PHI
Protected Health Information
PEPM
Per Employee Per Month
PDA
Pregnancy Discrimination Act
PCORI
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
PCOR
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (Fee)
PCE
Preexisting Condition Exclusion
Q
QMCSO
Qualified Medical Child Support Order
QHP
Qualified Health Plan
QDRO
Qualified Domestic Relations Order
R
ROI
Return On Investment
RDS
Retiree Drug Subsidy Program
S
SUB
Supplemental Unemployment Benefits
STD
Short Term Disability
SSA
Social Security Administration
SPD
Summary Plan Description
SMM
Summary of Material Modifications
SIMPLE Plan
Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees
SHOP
Small Business Health Options Program
SGC
Small Group Cluster
SEP
Simplified Employee Pension
SBC
Summary of Benefits and Coverage
SAR
Summary Annual Report
T
TRICARE
healthcare program for uniformed service members
TRF
Transitional Reinsurance Fee
TPO
Treatment, Payment and Healthcare Operations
TPA
Third-Party Administrator
U
USERRA
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act
USC
United States Code
V
VEBA
Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association
W
WHCRA
Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act