Cabinet-level department of the Executive Branch that administers the Black Lung health and disability program for coal miners.

Government department that administers and manages programs for veterans of the armed services; formerly known as the Veterans Administration .

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Age when insurance coverage stops for a dependent child who is covered under a family insurance contract or plan.

Group life insurance that covers the spouse, children, or other dependents of the group member. Generally it is sold in small amounts mainly to cover funeral expenses.

Benefit that allows employees to set aside a portion of their wages, before taxes are taken out, to pay for certain dependent-care expenses such as child care or elder care, over-the-counter medically related items, and health premiums. Funds are taken out of an employee’s wages through payroll deductions and put into an account controlled by a plan administrator. The employee submits proof of qualified expenses to the plan administrator, who will reimburse the employee from the employee’s account. Employees have to estimate expenses carefully because any unused money at the end of the year is forfeited. Also known as a tax saver or flexible spending account (FSA) .

Spouse and children of the insured. Under some insurance policies, parents, other family members, and domestic partners may be covered as dependents.

Mechanism to fund a retirement plan in which the plan sponsor puts the plan assets in an insurance company’s general account. At the time of the employee’s retirement, the insurer withdraws sufficient funds from the general account to buy an annuity for the plan participant. This type of contract protects the plan sponsor from investment loss and guarantees minimum investment returns.

Type of group annuity contract that provides for the accumulation of contributions in an undivided fund out of which annuities are purchased as the individual members of the group retire.

Type of level term insurance that needs a larger premium payment in the first year than the amount of annual premiums in subsequent years. This higher first-year premium is called a deposit . If the insured dies, double the deposit is added to the death benefit. If the insured lives, double the deposit is returned. If the policy lapses, the insured forfeits the deposit and receives no refund.