If you’ve ever heard people talk about a QSEHRA in a meeting or on a webinar, you may have wondered:
“How do you actually pronounce QSEHRA?”
You’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions we hear from employers, insurance brokers, and benefits professionals who are learning about Health Reimbursement Arrangements.
The good news is that there isn’t an official IRS pronunciation.
The Most Common Pronunciation
At Empower, we pronounce QSEHRA as:
“Q-ser-a”
It sounds like:
Cue-SAIR-uh
This pronunciation is easy to say, easy to remember, and is commonly used throughout the employee benefits industry.
Why Is It Called a QSEHRA?
QSEHRA stands for:
Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement
As you can imagine, that’s quite a mouthful.
Because of its length, nearly everyone shortens it to “QSEHRA.”
Are There Other Ways to Pronounce It?
Yes.
Since the IRS has never published an official pronunciation, you’ll hear several variations, including:
- “Q-ser-a” (our preferred pronunciation)
- “Q-S-E-H-R-A” (saying each letter individually)
- “Cue-see-ra”
If you’ve attended benefits conferences or spoken with different TPAs, you’ve probably heard more than one version.
The important thing is that everyone is talking about the same benefit.
What Is a QSEHRA?
A QSEHRA is a type of Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) designed specifically for eligible small employers.
Rather than purchasing a traditional group health insurance plan, employers establish a reimbursement allowance that employees can use for eligible healthcare expenses and, in many cases, individual health insurance premiums.
QSEHRAs are available only to employers that:
- Have fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees.
- Do not offer a traditional group health plan.
They have become a popular option for small businesses looking for a more flexible way to provide healthcare benefits.
Why Do People Ask How to Pronounce It?
The employee benefits industry loves acronyms.
FSA.
HSA.
HRA.
ICHRA.
QSEHRA.
LSA.
COBRA.
For employers who don’t work with these programs every day, the terminology can be confusing.
Fortunately, once you understand what a QSEHRA is, the pronunciation becomes much less important than how it can help your business.
Looking for More Information About QSEHRAs?
If you’re researching QSEHRAs, you may also find these topics helpful:
These articles explain how QSEHRAs work, who can offer them, and whether they’re a good fit for your business.
Questions About QSEHRAs?
Whether you pronounce it “Q-ser-a,” say each letter individually, or simply call it a reimbursement arrangement, the important question is whether a QSEHRA is the right healthcare benefit for your employees.
Empower helps small businesses implement and administer QSEHRAs, along with other tax-advantaged employee benefit programs, including FSAs, HRAs, ICHRAs, COBRA administration, and commuter benefits.
If you’d like to learn more about whether a QSEHRA is right for your business, we’d be happy to help.
