Glossary
H
19 terms
401(h) account
A postretirement medical-benefit component provided in some defined benefit pension plans in addition to the normal retirement benefits of the plan, pursuant to Section 401(h) of the Internal Revenue Code.
hazardous substance
Related to Superfund: the definition of hazardous substance in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 is broader than the definition of hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976. Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, a hazardous substance is any element, compound, mixture, solution, or substance that, when released to the environment, may present substantial danger to the public health or welfare or to the environment. It also includes the following: Specifically designated substances Toxic pollutants under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Hazardous wastes having the characteristics identified under or listed pursuant to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (excluding any waste suspended from regulation under the Solid Waste Disposal Act by Congress) Hazardous air pollutants under the Clean Air Act Any imminently hazardous chemical substance or mixture for which the government has taken action under section 7 of the Toxic Substances Control Act. Petroleum (including crude oil not otherwise specifically listed or designated as a hazardous substance under any of those laws), natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquefied natural gas, or synthetic gas useable for fuel (or mixtures of natural gas and such synthetic gas) are excluded.
Used in 1 subtopic:410-30
hazardous waste
Related to Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976: a waste, or combination of wastes, that because of its quantity, concentration, toxicity, corrosiveness, mutagenicity or inflammability, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics may cause, or significantly contribute to, an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible, or incapacitating reversible illness or pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, or disposed of, or otherwise managed. Technically, those wastes that are regulated under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 40 CFR Part 261 are considered to be hazardous wastes.
hazardous waste constituents
A constituent that caused the waste to be listed as a hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 40 CFR Part 261 Subpart D.
Used in 1 subtopic:410-30
health and welfare benefit plans
Health and welfare benefit plans include plans that provide the following: Any of the following benefits: Medical, dental, visual, psychiatric, or long-term health care Life insurance (offered separately from a pension plan) Certain severance benefits Accidental death or dismemberment benefits. Benefits for unemployment, disability, vacations, or holidays Other benefits such as apprenticeships, tuition assistance, day care, dependent care, housing subsidies, or legal services.
Used in 9 subtopics:205-965310-965320-965325-965360-965965-10+3 more
health care cost trend rates
An assumption about the annual rates of change in the cost of health care benefits currently provided by the postretirement benefit plan, due to factors other than changes in the composition of the plan population by age and dependency status, for each year from the measurement date until the end of the period in which benefits are expected to be paid. The health care cost trend rates implicitly consider estimates of health care inflation, changes in health care utilization or delivery patterns, technological advances, and changes in the health status of the plan participants. Differing types of services, such as hospital care and dental care, may have different trend rates.
Used in 1 subtopic:715-60
Health Insurance Claims
Claims related to the cost of medical treatments (other than claims related to liability insurance that covers claims against the insured for injury of or by others, such as, but not limited to, workers' compensation, disability, and general liability insurance).
Used in 1 subtopic:944-40
health maintenance organizations
A generic group of medical care entities organized to provide defined health care services to members in return for fixed, periodic premiums (usually paid monthly) that are paid in advance.
Hedged Layer
The hedged item designated in a portfolio layer method hedging relationship, representing a stated amount or stated amounts of a closed portfolio of financial assets or one or more beneficial interests secured by a portfolio of financial instruments that is not expected to be affected by prepayments, defaults, or other factors affecting the timing and amount of cash flows for the designated hedge period.
high-yield debt securities
Corporate and municipal debt securities having a lower-than-investment-grade credit rating (BB+ or lower by Standard & Poor's, or Ba or lower by Moody's). Because high-yield debt securities typically are used when lower-cost capital is not available, they have interest rates several percentage points higher than investment-grade debt and often have shorter maturities. These high-yielding corporate and municipal debt obligations are frequently referred to as junk bonds.
Used in 1 subtopic:320-946
Highest and Best Use
The use of a nonfinancial asset by market participants that would maximize the value of the asset or the group of assets and liabilities (for example, a business) within which the asset would be used.
Used in 1 subtopic:820-10
historical cost
The generally accepted method of accounting used in the primary financial statements that is based on measures of historical prices without restatement into units, each of which has the same general purchasing power.
Used in 1 subtopic:255-10
historical cost-constant purchasing power accounting
A method of accounting based on measures of historical prices in units of a currency, each of which has the same general purchasing power.
Used in 1 subtopic:255-10
Holding Gain or Loss
The net change in fair value of a security. The holding gain or loss does not include dividend or interest income recognized but not yet received, writeoffs, or the allowance for credit losses.
Holding period
The period during which a time-sharing interval is held for sale. Sellers may offer time-sharing units for rent during such holding periods.
Hosting Arrangement
In connection with accessing and using software products, an arrangement in which the customer of the software does not currently have possession of the software; rather, the customer accesses and uses the software on an as-needed basis.