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Sabbatical

A long-term break from work offered as a reward for tenure or mental health.

Safe Harbor

A legal provision that protects employers from penalties if they follow specific plan designs.

Safe Harbor 401(k)

A 401(k) plan design that allows employers to bypass certain annual compliance testing.

Salary

A fixed amount of annual pay regardless of the number of hours worked.

SBC (Summary of Benefits and Coverage)

An easy-to-read outline that lets you compare costs and coverage between health plans.

SBC (Summary of Benefits)

A standard easy-to-read document explaining what a health plan covers and costs.

Section 125 Plan

The tax code allowing employees to pay for benefits with pre-tax dollars.

SECURE 2.0

Federal legislation that updated retirement rules including student loan matching and emergency savings.

Self-Funded

A model where the employer pays for claims directly rather than buying traditional insurance.

Self-Funded [or Self-Insured] Plan

AKA a self-insured plan, refers to a type of health insurance plan in which the...

Semi-Monthly Payroll

A pay schedule where employees are paid twice a month (24 times a year).

Shared Savings

A model where providers keep a portion of the money they save the health plan.

Short-Term Disability (STD)

Provides partial income replacement if you are unable to work due to a short-term illness.

Single Sign-On (SSO)

A session and user authentication service that lets employees use one login for all benefit...

Skilled Nursing Care

Services that can only be safely and effectively performed by licensed nurses.

Social Wellness

Benefits that encourage community building volunteering and healthy workplace relationships.

SPD (Summary Plan Description)

The formal document explaining how a benefit plan works and what it covers.

Specialty Drug

High-cost complex medications often requiring special storage or administration.

Specialty Pharmacy

A pharmacy that focuses exclusively on high-cost high-touch specialty medications.

Spread Pricing

When a PBM charges an employer more than it pays the pharmacy keeping the difference.

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC)

A code used by insurers to determine risk based on the company's industry.

Step Therapy

A protocol requiring patients to try lower-cost drugs before "stepping up" to pricier ones.

Stipend

A fixed sum of money paid periodically for expenses or as a benefit.

Stop-Loss

Insurance that protects self-funded employers from claims that exceed a certain dollar amount.

Stop-Loss Insurance

Protection for self-funded employers. It limits the employer's liability by kicking in if an individual...

Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

A condition where the use of drugs or alcohol leads to significant impairment.

Summary of Material Modifications

A required notice sent to employees when there are significant changes to their benefits.

Summary of Material Modifications (SMM)

A document notifying participants of significant changes to a benefit plan.

Supplemental Life

Additional life insurance an employee can purchase beyond the employer-paid amount.