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100+ Free GBA Practice Questions

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Question 1
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When an employee is first eligible for group health plan coverage, the plan's eligibility waiting period begins. Under the ACA, what is the maximum allowable waiting period?

A
B
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D
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Key Facts: GBA Exam

3

Required Exams

IFEBP CEBS program page

100

Questions Per Exam

IFEBP CEBS program page

2 hours

Time Per Exam

IFEBP CEBS program page

~$885

Total Exam Fees

IFEBP CEBS pricing

Wharton

Academic Affiliation

IFEBP/Wharton CEBS program

IFEBP structures GBA as 3 exams of 100 questions each at Prometric, 2 hours per exam, ~$295 per exam (~$885 total). GBA counts toward the full CEBS designation and is affiliated with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Sample GBA Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your GBA exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which type of managed care plan requires members to receive all non-emergency care from in-network providers but does NOT require a primary care physician referral to see a specialist?
A.Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
B.Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
C.Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO)
D.Point-of-Service (POS) plan
Explanation: An EPO restricts members to in-network providers (like an HMO) but typically does not require a PCP or referral for specialist visits (like a PPO within the network). HMOs generally require PCP referrals. PPOs offer out-of-network coverage. POS plans blend HMO and PPO features, usually requiring referrals.
2An employer with 300 employees is considering moving from a fully-insured health plan to a self-insured arrangement. Which of the following is the PRIMARY financial advantage of self-insurance?
A.The employer is exempt from all federal healthcare regulations
B.The employer retains underwriting savings and avoids state premium taxes and mandated benefits
C.The employer transfers all claims risk to a stop-loss carrier
D.The employer can deny claims for pre-existing conditions
Explanation: Self-insured plans allow employers to avoid state premium taxes (typically 2-3%) and state-mandated benefit requirements due to ERISA preemption. Employers retain any underwriting profit that would otherwise go to an insurer. Self-insured plans are still subject to federal laws like the ACA, ERISA, and HIPAA.
3In a self-insured health plan, specific stop-loss insurance provides protection against which type of loss?
A.Total aggregate claims exceeding a threshold for the entire plan year
B.Individual claims exceeding a specified dollar amount per covered person
C.Administrative costs exceeding the plan's operating budget
D.Prescription drug costs for the entire plan
Explanation: Specific (or individual) stop-loss insurance reimburses the employer when a single covered person's claims exceed a predetermined attachment point (e.g., $150,000). This protects against catastrophic individual claims. Aggregate stop-loss covers total plan claims exceeding a threshold, providing a different layer of protection.
4A Consumer-Directed Health Plan (CDHP) typically combines which two components?
A.An HMO plan and a pension fund
B.A High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and a tax-advantaged savings account (HSA or HRA)
C.A dental plan and a vision plan
D.A life insurance policy and a disability plan
Explanation: CDHPs pair a high-deductible health plan with a tax-advantaged account — either an HSA (employee-owned) or HRA (employer-funded) — to cover out-of-pocket costs. This design encourages employees to be cost-conscious consumers of healthcare while providing financial protection for larger expenses.
5Which pharmacy benefit management strategy requires a patient to try a less expensive drug before the plan will cover a more expensive alternative?
A.Prior authorization
B.Step therapy
C.Quantity limits
D.Specialty pharmacy carve-out
Explanation: Step therapy (also called fail-first therapy) requires patients to try one or more lower-cost medications before the plan approves coverage for a more expensive drug. If the initial drug is ineffective or causes adverse effects, the plan then covers the preferred medication. This is a common cost-management tool in pharmacy benefit design.
6An employer's PPO plan allows members to see out-of-network providers but at higher cost-sharing. Which feature distinguishes a PPO from an HMO?
A.PPOs require members to select a primary care physician
B.PPOs provide coverage for out-of-network services at reduced benefit levels
C.PPOs do not use networks of contracted providers
D.PPOs have no deductibles or copays
Explanation: The defining feature of a PPO is that it covers out-of-network services, although at higher cost-sharing (higher coinsurance, deductibles, and potential balance billing). HMOs generally do not cover out-of-network services except in emergencies. Both PPOs and HMOs use networks, but PPOs offer greater flexibility.
7What is the primary purpose of aggregate stop-loss insurance in a self-insured health plan?
A.To cover individual claims above a specific dollar threshold
B.To cap the total plan claims liability for the contract period if claims exceed a predetermined corridor
C.To replace the employer's obligation to pay any claims
D.To provide coverage for pharmacy benefits exclusively
Explanation: Aggregate stop-loss sets a ceiling on the employer's total claims expenditure for the plan year. If actual claims exceed the aggregate attachment point (typically set at 125% of expected claims), the stop-loss carrier reimburses the excess. This protects against an overall adverse claims year rather than a single catastrophic claim.
8Which of the following is a key advantage of a POS (Point-of-Service) plan from an employee's perspective?
A.Lower premiums than all other plan types
B.The ability to seek out-of-network care while still having in-network HMO-style benefits with a PCP
C.No need for any referrals under any circumstances
D.All services are covered at 100% with no cost-sharing
Explanation: POS plans combine HMO features (PCP, referrals, network focus) with the ability to go out-of-network at higher cost-sharing. This gives employees the structured care coordination of an HMO in-network while preserving the option to see non-network providers when needed.
9In the context of pharmacy benefit design, what is a formulary?
A.A legal contract between the employer and the pharmacy benefit manager
B.A list of prescription drugs covered by the plan, organized into tiers with different cost-sharing levels
C.A government database of all FDA-approved medications
D.An employee's prescription history maintained by the plan
Explanation: A formulary is a list of medications that the health plan covers, organized into tiers (e.g., Tier 1: generics, Tier 2: preferred brands, Tier 3: non-preferred brands, Tier 4: specialty). Each tier has a different copay or coinsurance amount, incentivizing the use of lower-cost drugs. Formularies are managed by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).
10An employer is choosing between fully-insured and self-insured health plan funding. In a fully-insured arrangement, which party bears the claims risk?
A.The employer
B.The employees
C.The insurance carrier
D.The third-party administrator
Explanation: In a fully-insured arrangement, the employer pays fixed premiums to the insurance carrier, which assumes the risk of paying all claims. The carrier bears the financial risk of claims fluctuation. In self-insured plans, the employer retains this risk and pays claims directly.

About the GBA Exam

The GBA (Group Benefits Associate) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans (IFEBP) is a sub-credential of the CEBS program focusing on group health and welfare benefits. GBA requires passing three course exams (GBA 1, GBA 2, and GBA/RPA 3), each with 100 multiple-choice questions administered at Prometric test centers over 2 hours.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

2 hours per exam

Passing Score

Scaled passing score

Exam Fee

~$295 per exam (~$885 total for 3 exams) (IFEBP / Prometric)

GBA Exam Content Outline

25%

Group Health Plans

PPO/HMO/POS, self-insured vs fully-insured, stop-loss, pharmacy benefits, and CDHPs

20%

Welfare Benefits

Life insurance, disability (STD/LTD), dental, vision, and EAP programs

25%

Benefits Regulation

ACA, ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, Section 125, and mental health parity compliance

15%

Plan Administration

Enrollment, eligibility, claims processing, SPDs, and vendor management

15%

Cost Management

Experience rating, renewal negotiations, wellness ROI, data analytics, and cost containment

How to Pass the GBA Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Scaled passing score
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 2 hours per exam
  • Exam fee: ~$295 per exam (~$885 total for 3 exams)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

GBA Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the differences between PPO, HMO, EPO, and POS plan structures as these are foundational
2Learn COBRA, FMLA, and HIPAA rules thoroughly — they appear heavily on all three exams
3Understand self-insured vs. fully-insured plan funding and the role of stop-loss insurance
4Practice calculating cost-sharing scenarios (deductibles, coinsurance, copays, balance billing)
5Study each exam sequentially since GBA 2 builds on GBA 1 concepts
6Use timed 100-question practice sets to simulate the 2-hour exam format

Frequently Asked Questions

How many exams are required for the GBA designation?

GBA requires passing 3 course exams: GBA 1, GBA 2, and a shared GBA/RPA 3 exam. Each exam has 100 multiple-choice questions with a 2-hour time limit.

How much does the GBA program cost?

Each GBA exam costs approximately $295, totaling about $885 for all three exams. Course materials and study resources are additional costs.

Does GBA count toward CEBS?

Yes, GBA is one of two sub-credentials of the CEBS (Certified Employee Benefit Specialist) program. Earning both GBA and RPA completes the CEBS designation.

Where are GBA exams administered?

GBA exams are administered at Prometric test centers. Candidates register through IFEBP and schedule at a convenient Prometric location.

What is the Wharton affiliation?

The CEBS program (including GBA) is jointly sponsored by IFEBP and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, lending academic credibility to the designation.