What’s In a Name???
There is nothing that drives me more insane than people using an acronym for something, that I don’t recognize. We’re all familiar with acronyms we hear often, like AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) or NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association). We use them just like they are actual words. But when you are hit with a string of them, under one particular heading, it kind of takes your breath away.
Over the past couple of years, in my research of the ACA (Affordable Care Act , aka federal healthcare reform/Obamacare) I have amassed a huge, ongoing list of acronyms that pertain to the ACA. I thought it would be helpful to list some of these, as we are moving forward toward the October 1st rollout of federal healthcare reform and these acronyms are being used often in the media.
- ACA: Affordable Care Act
- PPACA: Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (same as ACA)
- EHB: Essential Health Benefits
- GF: Grandfathered Plan
- NGF: Non-Grandfathered Plan
- FPL: Federal Poverty Level
- HHS: Health and Human Services (the federal department in charge of ACA implementation)
- QHP: Qualified Health Plan
- IEP: Initial Enrollment Period (October 1, 2013 – March 31, 2014)
- AEP: Annual Enrollment Period (October 1st – December 31st each year)
- SEP: Special Enrollment Period (time to enroll in ACA due to qualified events)
Now, bear in mind, this is only about a 1/3 of the list I have compiled over the past 18 months or so. So what’s in a name? In this case, a whole lot!
We will keep you posted on any new information on the ACA, as it comes down the pike. Be sure to post any comments or questions to this and any other blog posting.
