Monday, January 5
Early Retiree Reinsurance Program (ERRP)
Created by the Affordable Care Act, a temporary program that provides reimbursement to employer sponsors of participating employment-based health plans for a portion of the cost of health coverage for early retirees and their families. This program expires in January of 2014.
Thursday, December 18
Obamacare
Commonly used political shorthand for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the 2010 health care reform law signed by President Obama; also referred to as the Affordable Care Act or ACA.
Wednesday, December 17
Health Disparities
Systematic differences in health conditions and treatment due to race, income, language, residency, or other factors.
Tuesday, December 16
Generic Pharmaceuticals
Prescription drugs with the same chemical make-up as a drug that went through the full FDA approval process that are sold under a different name and usually by a different company than the maker of the original drug.
Monday, December 15
Status Change
Life changes that allow an individual to make changes to their health coverage outside of the standard open enrollment period. Common examples include marriage, divorce, or childbirth.
Friday, December 12
Section 125 Plan
A plan that allows for employees to pay for health insurance premiums and receive certain benefits on a pre-tax basis.
Thursday, December 11
Excise Tax
A tax paid by the manufacturer or retailer of a good or service, as opposed to directly by the consumer (as in a sales tax).
Wednesday, December 10
Prepaid Group Practice
A form of insurance in which the health care provider is paid a preset amount, in advance, for their services.
Tuesday, December 9
Medicare Modernization Act (MMA)
Provided a new Medicare prescription drug benefit (Part D), made changes in Medicare and Medicaid, coverage and payments.
Monday, December 8
High-Risk Pool
State programs aimed at offering health insurance to individuals considered uninsurable and unable to buy coverage on the individual market.