ACA Glossary of Terms
[ezcol_1third]Affordable Care Act[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]The comprehensive health care reform law enacted in March 2010. The law was enacted in two parts: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law on March 23, 2010 and was amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act on March 30, 2010. The name “Affordable Care Act” is used to refer to the final, amended version of the law.[/ezcol_2third_end]
[ezcol_1third]Benefit Year[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]A year of benefits coverage under an individual health insurance plan. The benefit year for plans bought inside or outside the Marketplace begins January 1 of each year and ends December 31 of the same year. Your coverage ends December 31 even if your coverage started after January 1. Any changes to benefits or rates to a health insurance plan are made at the beginning of the calendar year.[/ezcol_2third_end]
[ezcol_1third]Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) Plan[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]A managed care plan where services are covered only if you go to doctors, specialists, or hospitals in the plan’s network (except in an emergency).[/ezcol_2third_end]
[ezcol_1third]Full-Time Employee[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]An employee who works an average of at least 30 hours per week (so part-time would be less than 30 hours per week).[/ezcol_2third_end]
[ezcol_1third]Large Group Health Plan[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_2third_end]In general, a group health plan that covers employees of an employer that has 101 or more employees. Until 2016, in some states large groups are defined as 51 or more.[/ezcol_2third_end]
Terms defined using the Federal Exchange Glossary, visit for many more terms defined.