ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
AD&D – Accidental Death and Dismemberment. A type of insurance policy that pays a benefit for an accidental death or loss of a leg or arm, for example.
ADEA – Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
COBRA – Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985
DCAP – Dependent Care Assistance Program
DHHS – Department of Health and Human Services
DOL – Department of Labor
EAP – Employee Assistance Program. Provides counseling and other services to employees.
EEOC – Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
EGTRRA – Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001
EOB – Explanation of Benefits. Issued by insurance companies when claims are made to explain what amount of medical expenses were covered.
EOI – Evidence of Insurability. Sometimes called evidence of good health; often required by insurers before issuing a long-term disability or group term life policy.
ERISA – Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
FSA – Flexible Spending Arrangement. An arrangement that provides a mechanism for participants to pay for certain medical and/or dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis.
FMLA – Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993
GTL Insurance – Group Term Life Insurance. A benefit plan providing life insurance to employees.
HCE – Highly Compensated Employee
HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996
HMO – Health Maintenance Organization
LTD Plan – Long-Term Disability Plan. A plan that provides a partial income-replacement benefit to an employee unable to work because of a disability.
MEWA – Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement. A special funding arrangement providing medical or other welfare benefits to employees of two or more employers.
MHPA – Mental Health Parity Act of 1996
MSA – Medical Savings Account
MSP Rules – Medicare Secondary Payer Rules. Laws that require Medicare to be the secondary payer in most situations where a group health plan or private insurance carrier also provides coverage.
NHCE – Non-Highly Compensated Employee.
NMHPA – Newborns’ and Mothers’ Health Protection Act of 1996
PCE – Preexisting-Condition Exclusion. Also called Pre-Ex.
PDA – Pregnancy Discrimination Act
POP – Premium-Only Plan. A type of cafeteria plan that permits employees to pay for their share of insurance premiums with pre-tax dollars.
PWBA – Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration. An agency at the DOL.
QMCSO – Qualified Medical Child Support Order
SAR – Summary Annual Report. Furnished to participants, it summarizes information about their plans.
SMM – Summary of Material Modifications. An ERISA-required summary of plan changes that a plan sponsor must distribute to participants and beneficiaries.
SPD – Summary Plan Description. An ERISA-required plan summary that must be furnished to participants and beneficiaries.
SSA – Social Security Administration
TPA – Third-Party Administrator
USERRA – Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994
VEBA – Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association. Often operated as an exempt trust; a funding vehicle for health and welfare benefits.
WHCRA – Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act