Learn What Acronyms Mean
It can be hard to keep track of all the acronyms you need to know about your health coverage.
We've compiled a list of the most important ones so you can quickly look up anything you don't know as you make the most of your health insurance plan.
If you need definitions of important terms, visit our Glossary.
- ACA
- (Patient Protection and) Affordable Care Act
- ACO
- Accountable Care Organization
- AD&D
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment
- ADA
- American with Disabilities Act of 1990
- ALOS
- Average Length of Stay
- AMA
- American Medical Association
- APTC
- Advanced Premium Tax Credit
- ASC
- Ambulatory Surgery Center
- Auth
- Authorization
- BOI
- Bureau of Insurance
- CDHP
- Consumer-Directed Health Plan
- CHAMPUS
- Civilian Hospital and Medical Program of the Uniformed Service. Now known as Tricare.
- CHIP
- Children's Health Insurance Program
- CIN
- Clinically Integrated Network
- CMS
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (previously HCFA)
- COB
- Coordination of Benefits
- COBRA
- Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act (extension of coverage)
- COI
- Certificate of Insurance
- CPT
- Current Procedural Terminology (Level 1 codes)
- DMAS
- Department of Medical Assistance Services
- DME
- Durable Medical Equipment
- DOL
- Department of Labor
- DOS
- Date of Service
- E & L
- Exclusions and Limitations
- EAP
- Employee Assistance Program
- EMT
- Emergency Medical Technician
- ENT
- Ears,
Nose and Throat - EOB
- Explanation of Benefits
- EOC
- Evidence of Coverage (HMO / POS Plan Documentation)
- ER
- Emergency Room
- ERISA
- Employee Retirement Income Security Act
- FAMIS
- Family Access to Medical Insurance Security Plan
- FDA
- Food and Drug Administration
- FEHBP
- Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan
- FFS
- Fee for Service
- FMLA
- Family and Medical Leave Act
- FSA
- Flexible Spending Account
- HDHP
- High-Deductible Health Plan
- HEDIS®
- Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set
- HIPAA
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
- HMO
- Health Maintenance Organization
- HRA
- Health Reimbursement Account
- HSA
- Health Savings Account
- ICU
- Intensive Care Unit
- IRF
- Inpatient Reading Fee
- IUD
- Intrauterine Device
- IV
- Intravenous
- JCAHO
- Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Hospital Organizations
- LOS
- Length of Stay
- LPN
- Licensed Practical Nurse
- LTD
- Long Term Disability
- Max
- Maximum
- MD
- Medical Doctor
- MOOP
- Maximum Out of Pocket
- MRI
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- NAIC
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners
- NCQA
- National Committee for Quality Assurance
- NIMH
- National Institute of Mental Health
- Non-par
- Not participating (out-of-network)
- NPI
- National Provider Identifier
- OB
- Obstetrician
- OOA
- Out of Area
- OOP
- Out of Pocket
- OSHA
- Occupational Safety and Health Act
- OTC
- Over the Counter
- OV
- Office Visit
- P&T
- Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee
- Par
- Participating
- PCMH
- Patient Centered Medical Home
- PCP
- Primary Care Physician
- PHA
- Personal Health Assessment
- PHI
- Protected Health Information
- POA
- Power of Attorney
- POS
- Point of Service
- PPACA
- Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
- PPO
- Preferred Provider Organization
- Pre-auth
- Pre-Authorization
- Pre-X
- Pre-existing Conditions
- PSA
- Prostate Screening Antigen
- PT
- Physical Therapy
- QHP
- Qualified Health Plan
- Remit
- Remittance
- Retro
- Retroactive
- RN
- Registered Nurse
- ROI
- Release of Information
- RX
- Prescription
- SBC
- Uniform Summary of Benefits and Coverage
- SF
- Self-Funded
- SNF
- Skilled Nursing Facility
- ST
- Speech Therapy
- STD
- Short-Term Disability
- TEFRA
- Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982
- TPA
- Third-Party Administrator
- TRICARE
- Managed Healthcare System for military families
- UCC
- Urgent Care Center
- URI
- Upper Respiratory Infection
- VA Hospital
- Veterans Administration Hospital
- WC
- Worker's Compensation
- WH
- Withhold
- WIC
- Women, Infants and Children (supplemental food program)
- YTD
- Year to Date
