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Feature Article | Press Releases | Industry News | Glossary | Brochure
eAppeals Glossary of Healthcare Terminology
As you explore our eAppeals Web section and learn about appealing your healthcare claims, you may come across an unfamiliar word or health care term. So, we've developed a glossary of health care terms we hope will help you.
Jump to the first letter of the term you're looking for:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Accident - An unforeseen, unintended event; something unexpected; fortuitous.
Accreditation - Certification that an organization meets the reviewing organization's standards. Examples: accreditation of HMOs by the National Committee on Quality Assurance (NCQA) or accreditation of hospitals by the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
Act of God - Natural occurrence beyond human control or influence. Such acts of nature include hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods.
Actuary - A professional trained in the mathematics of insurance and risk management.
Adjudication - The administrative procedure used to process a claim for service according to the covered benefit.
Allowable Charge - The maximum fee that a health plan will reimburse a provider for a given service.
Alternative Birthing Center - A facility offering a "non-traditional" ("not like a hospital") setting for giving birth. While alternative birthing centers can range from free-standing centers to special areas within hospitals, birthing centers are generally known for a more comfortable, home-like atmosphere, allow more participation by the father and have more procedural flexibility than commonly found in hospital births.
Ambulatory Care - A general term for care that doesn't involve admission to an inpatient hospital bed. Visits to a doctor's office are a type of ambulatory care.
Ambulatory Surgery - Surgical procedures performed that do not require an overnight hospital stay. Procedures can be performed in a hospital or a licensed surgical center. Also called Outpatient Surgery.
American Dental Association (ADA) - A professional association of dentists dedicated to serving the public and profession of dentistry.
American Medical Association (AMA) - A professional association of physicians dedicated to promoting the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health.
Ancillary care - Diagnostic and/or supportive services such as radiology, physical therapy, pharmacy or laboratory work.
Anniversary date - The day after a coverage period ends under a health benefits plan. Usually, the month and day that a health benefits plan first goes into effect becomes its anniversary date each year.
Appeals - A process used by a patient or provider to request re-consideration of a previously denied service.
Application - A form containing underwriting information. The basis upon which a policy is issued.
Assignment of benefits - When a covered person authorizes his or her health benefits plan to directly pay a health care provider for covered services. Traditional health insurance pays benefits directly to the covered person.
Authorization - See Precertification.
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B
Behavioral care services -Assessment and therapeutic services used in the treatment of mental health and substance abuse problems.
Benefit Year - The coverage period, usually 12 months long, which is used for administration of a health benefits plan.
Benefits package - A term informally used to refer to the employer's benefits plan or to the benefits plan options from which the employee can choose. "Benefits package" highlights the fact a health benefits plan is a compilation of specific benefits.
Benefits - The portion of the costs of covered services paid by a health plan. For example, if a plan pays the remainder of a doctor's bill after an office visit copayment has been made, the amount the plan pays is the "benefit." Or, if the plan pays 80% of the reasonable and customary cost of covered services, that 80% payment is the "benefit."
Board-certified - Any physician who has completed medical school, internship and residency in his or her chosen specialty and has successfully completed an examination conducted by a group (or board) of peers.
Brand-name drug - A drug manufactured by a pharmaceutical company which has chosen to patent the drug's formula and register its brand name.
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C
Cancellation - Termination of an insurance policy by the company or insured.
Care management - A generic term which has been used in many different ways,often refers to a initiative that takes a global approach to medical care from prevention through treatment and recovery.
Carrier - A term historically used for licensed insurance companies, although now is sometimes used to include both licensed insurers and HMOs.
Case management - Coordination of services to help meet a patient's health care needs, usually when the patient has a condition which requires multiple services from multiple providers. This term is also used to refer to coordination of care during and after a hospital stay.
C - See Precertification.
Charge Amount - The amount billed by a provider for services rendered to a participant.
Chemotherapy - Treatment of malignant disease by chemical or biological antinoeplastic agents.
Claim Status - Claims are Paid, Pended, Denied, or Received-Not-Yet-Processed.
Claim - A claim is a request for payment under the terms of a health benefits plan.
Claimant - One who makes a claim against another.
Clinical Practice Guidelines - General procedures and suggestions about what constitutes an acceptable range of practices for particular diseases or conditions. These guidelines are usually developed by a consensus of doctors in a given field, such as radiology or cardiology.
Cognitive service - Diagnostic services a doctor provides during delivery of medical services, consultations or care.
Co-insurance - The percent of each health care bill you must pay out of your own pocket. Non-covered charges and deductibles are in addition to this amount.
Conditional Receipt - A premium receipt given to an applicant which makes the insurance effective only if or when a specified condition is met.
COBRA - Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) - A federal statute that requires most employers to offer to covered employees and covered dependents who would otherwise lose health coverage for reasons specified in the statute, the opportunity to purchase the same health benefits coverage that the employer provides to its remaining employees. This continuation of coverage can only last for a maximum specified period of time (usually 18 months for employees and dependents who would otherwise be covered).
Consultation - A discussion with another health care professional when additional feedback is needed during diagnosis or treatment. Usually, a consultation is by referral from a primary care physician.
Contestable Period - A period of up to 2 years that an insurance company may deny payment of a claim because of suicide or a material misrepresentation on your application.
Contract - In most cases, the term "contract" refers to the insurance policy. The policy is considered to be a "contract" between the insurer and the insured for indemnification.A legal agreement between an individual subscriber or an employer group and a health plan that describes the benefits and limitations of the coverage.
Contract Holder -See Enrollee.
Conversion Option - The option to purchase individual coverage by a person who will no longer have access to group health insurance.
Coordination of Benefits - A provision in a contract that applies when a person is covered under more than one group health benefits program. It requires that payment of benefits be coordinated by all programs to eliminate overinsurance or duplication of benefits.
Copayment (copay) - What the participant pays at the time of service. Copayments are predetermined fees for physician office visits, prescriptions or hospital services.
Coverage End Date - Coverage End Date displays the date that coverage ends for a participant. This field is blank, if the participant is considered covered as of the date of the inquiry.
Coverage - The benefits that are provided according to the terms of a participant's specific health benefits plan.
Covered Services - Hospital, medical, and other health care services incurred by the enrollee that are entitled to a payment of benefits under a health benefit contract. The term defines the type and amount of expense that will be considered in the calculation of benefits.
Custodial Care - Care that is provided primarily to meet the personal needs of a patient. The care is not meant to be curative or providing medical treatment.
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D
Date of Service - The date the service was provided to the participant as specified on the claim.
Day Treatment Center - An outpatient facility that is licensed to provide outpatient care and treatment, usually for mental or nervous disorders or substance abuse.
Death Benefit - Amount paid to the beneficiary upon the death of the insured.
Declarations Page - The contract section containing such information as the name and address of the insured, period a policy is in force, premium payable, lienholder, description of the vehicle, and amount of coverage.
Deductible - An amount absorbed by the insured in a loss, before any payment is due from the company.
Deductible -The money an individual or family must pay from their own funds toward covered medical expenses, usually based on a calendar year. For example, if a plan has a $100 deductible, the deductible is met once the first $100 of the covered medical expenses for that year have been paid. After that, the plan begins to pay toward the cost of covered health care services.
Delegation - Delegation is a formal process by which the insurer gives another entity the authority to perform the claims payment administration on behalf of the insurer.
Denied Claim - Claims that are not issued a bank draft/remittance due to a specific reason code.
Dependent - A person eligible for coverage under an employee benefits plan because of that person's relationship to an employee. Spouses, children and adopted children are often eligible for dependent coverage.
Designated Provider Program (DPP)- Each member choosesPCP, but has the added convenience of going outside the network for care at any time. The benefits for out-of-network care are reduced, as an incentive to stay in the network, and are subject to indemnity-style deductibles and coinsurance.
Diagnostic Tests - Tests and procedures ordered by a physician to help diagnose or monitor a patient's condition or disease. Diagnostic tools include radiology, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, laboratory and pathology services or tests.
Discharge planning - Identifying a patient's health care needs after discharge from inpatient care.
Disenrollment - Voluntarily terminating one's participation in a health benefits plan.
Dividend - The amount of money an insurance company may decide to distribute to policyholders.
Drug Formulary - See Formulary.
Dual choice - The opportunity to chose between health care coverage from two or more group health plans, such as indemnity insurance or an HMO. This choice is usually offered during an employer's annual open-enrollment period.
Duplicate coverage - When a person has coverage for the same health services under more than one health benefits plan.
Durable medical equipment - Equipment that can withstand repeated use and is primarily and usually used to serve a medical purpose, is generally not useful to a person in the absence of illness or injury, and is appropriate for use in the home.
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E
Effective Date - The date on which coverage under a health benefits plan begins.
Eligible - Provisions contained in each health benefits plan that specify who qualifies for coverage under that plan.
Emergency - An accident or sudden illness that a person with an average knowledge of medical science believes needs to be treated right away or it could result in loss of life, serious medical complications or permanent disability. Emergencies are covered by your health care plan<24 hours a day, seven days a week, no matter where you are. Whenever there's a serious accident or sudden illness, and symptoms are severe and they occur unexpectedly, seek medical help immediately.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - An EAP is an assessment and referral program or a short-term counseling program that is pre-purchased by some employers and is available to their employees , their dependents and household members. Visits to the EAP are separate from your behavioral health care benefits plan with no copayment required.
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) - Federal legislation that applies to retirement programs and to employee welfare benefit programs established or maintained by employers and unions.
Enrollee - An individual who is enrolled and eligible for coverage under a health plan contract. Also called Member.
Evidence of Insurability - To qualify you for a particular policy at a particular price, companies have the right to ask you for information about your health and lifestyle. An insurance company will use this information - your evidence of insurability - in deciding if your application for insurance is acceptable and at what premium rate.
Examples of emergency situations - Uncontrolled bleeding, seizure or loss of consciousness, shortness of breath, chest pain or squeezing sensations in the chest, suspected overdose of medication or poisoning, sudden paralysis or slurred speech, severe burns, broken bones or severe pain.
Exclusions - Specific conditions or services that are not covered under the benefit agreement.
Exclusive Provider Program (EPP) - A type of benefit plan, in which covered persons select a PCP and receive covered services exclusively from the EPP provider network.
Experimental Procedures -Experimental, investigational or unproven procedures and treatments.
Expiration Date -The date indicated in an insurance contract as the date coverage expires.
Explanation of benefits (EOB) - A statement provided by the health benefits administrator that explains the benefits provided, the allowable reimbursement amounts, any deductibles, coinsurance or other adjustments taken and the net amount paid. A participant typically receives an explanation of benefits with a claim reimbursement check or as confirmation that a claim has been paid directly to the provider.
Extended care facility (ECF) -A medical care institution for patients who require long-term custodial or medical care, especially for chronic disease or a condition requiring prolonged rehabilitation therapy.
Extension of benefits - When a person's coverage is extended under certain conditions, such as disability, after their group health coverage would otherwise have ended.
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F
Flexible benefits plan - A type of benefits program that offers employees a menu of benefit options, allowing them to create a benefits package which best suits their individual needs.
Formulary - A list of preferred, commonly prescribed prescription drugs. These drugs are chosen by a team of doctors and pharmacists because of their clinical superiority, safety, ease of use and cost.
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G
Gatekeeper - A primary care physician who provides a broad range of routine medical services and refers patients to specialists, hospitals and other providers as necessary. This traditional primary care physician role is called a "gatekeeper" function. Under some benefits plans, a referral by the primary care physician is required to obtain services from other providers.
Generic drug - A prescription drug that has the same active-ingredient formula as a brand-name drug. A generic drug is known only by its formula name and its formula is available to any pharmaceutical company. Generic drugs are rated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be as safe and as effective as brand-name drugs and are typically less costly.
Group health coverage - A health benefits plan that covers a group of people as permitted by state and federal law.
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H
Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) - The federal agency responsible for administering Medicare and federal participation in Medicaid.
Health maintenance services - Any health care service or program that helps maintain a person's good health. Health maintenance services include all standard preventive medical practices, such as immunizations and periodic examinations, as well as health education and special self-help programs.
Health plan - A term that has different meanings depending upon the context. "Health plan" can be used to mean an HMO, a health benefits plan provided by an employer to its employees, or a health benefits plan offered to employers by an insurer or third party administrator.
HEDIS - The Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) - A core set of performance measures developed through the collaborative effort of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), employer groups and health care purchasers.
HMO - Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) - An organization that arranges a wide spectrum of health care services which commonly include hospital care, physicians' services and many other kinds of health care services with an emphasis on preventive care.
Home Health Care - Health services rendered in the home to an individual who is confined to the home. Such services are provided to individuals who do not need institutional care, but who need nursing services or therapy, medical supplies and special outpatient services.
Hospice - A health care facility that provides supportive care for the terminally ill.
Hospital - An institution whose primary function is to provide diagnostic and therapeutic inpatient services, for a variety of surgical and non-surgical medical conditions. In addition, most hospitals provide outpatient services, including emergency care.
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I
ID card - Identification cards are provided to all participants for proper identification under their group health plan. ID card information helps providers verify patient eligibility for coverage.
Indemnity plan - A type of health benefits plan under which the covered person pays 100% of all covered charges up to an annual deductible. The health benefits plan then pays a percentage of covered charges up to an out-of-pocket maximum.
Infertility - Term used to describe a condition or the inability to conceive or an inability to carry a pregnancy to a live birth after a year or more of regular sexual relations without the use of contraception.
Infusion Therapy - Treatment accomplished by placing therapeutic agents into the vein, including intravenous feeding. Such therapy also includes enteral nutrition, which is the delivery of nutrients into the gastrointestinal tract by tube.
In-Network - Refers to the use of providers who participate in a health plan's provider network. Many benefit plans encourage enrollees to use participating (in-network) providers to reduce the enrollee's out-of-pocket expense.
Inpatient care - Care given to a patient admitted to a hospital, extended care facility, nursing home or other facility.
Insured - The policyholder - the person(s) protected in case of a loss or claim.
Insurer - The insurance company.
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J
JCAHO - Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations - The JCAHO is an independent, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services which support performance improvements in health care organizations. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits hospitals and health care organizations which provide managed care (including health plans, preferred provider organizations and integrated delivery systems), home care, long-term care, behavioral health care, laboratory and ambulatory care services.
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K
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L
Lapse - Termination of a policy due to non-payment of renewal premiums. If the policy has cash value, then the policy's insurance coverage may remain effective as extended term or reduced paid up insurance through the use of a nonforfeiture option.
Long-term care - The range of services typically provided at skilled nursing, intermediate-care, personal care or elder-care facilities.
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M
Maintenance medication - Medications that are prescribed for long-term treatment of chronic conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure or asthma.
Managed Behavioral Health - This is a program that covers your mental health and substance abuse care needs. In most cases, in-network benefits need to be pre-authorized by calling the Mental Health/Substance Abuse number on your health care ID card. The services that may be covered under the benefit plans are: individual therapy, family therapy, group therapy, psychiatric evaluation, psychiatric medication management, intensive outpatient services, inpatient and partial hospitalization. Benefits plans vary by employer (covered services and number of available outpatient visits and inpatient days each year).
Managed Care - A system of health care delivery that manages the cost of health care and access to health care providers.
Material Misrepresentation - A significant misstatement in an application form. If a company had access to the correct information at the time of application, the company might not have agreed to accept the application.
Medical Necessity -Medical necessity is a term used to refer to a course of treatment seen as the most helpful for the specific health symptoms you are experiencing. The course of treatment is determined jointly by you, your health professional and your health care plan. This course of treatment strives to provide you with the best care in the most appropriate setting.
Medicare Part A - Hospital insurance provided by Medicare that can help pay for inpatient hospital care, medically necessary inpatient care in a skilled nursing facility, home health care, hospice care and end-stage renal disease treatment.
Medicare Part B - Medicare-administered medical insurance that helps pay for certain medically necessary practitioner services, outpatient hospital services and supplies not covered by Part A hospital insurance of Medicare coverage. Doctors' services are covered under Part B even if they're provided to a member in an inpatient setting. Part B can also pay for some home health services when the beneficiary doesn't qualify for Part A.
Medicare - Title XVIII of the Social Security Act that provides payment for medical and health services to the population aged 65 and over regardless of income, as well as certain disabled persons and persons with ESRD.
Medigap - A term used to describe health benefits coverage that supplements Medicare coverage.
Member - An individual or dependent who is enrolled in and covered by a managed health care plan. Also called Enrollee or Beneficiary.
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N
NCQA - National Committee on Quality Assurance(NCQA) - An independent, nonprofit organization which assesses the quality of managed care plans, managed behavioral health care organizations and credentials verification organizations.
Net Cash Value - The cash value amount available to a policy owner after adjustments have been made to the cash surrender value to account for policy loans and dividends.
Network - A group of health care providers under contract with a managed care company within a specific geographic area.
Non-Participating Provider - A medical provider who has not contracted with a health plan.
Non-renewal - Provision in a policy that states the circumstances under which an insurer may elect not to renew the policy.
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O
Occupational Therapy - Treatment to restore a physically disabled person's ability to perform activities such as walking, eating, drinking, dressing, toileting, and bathing.
Open enrollment - A period when eligible persons can enroll in a health benefits plan.
Opt-out privilege - A general term used when some benefits are available for out-of-network covered services. Often coverage is less than the coverage available for in-network services, and the covered person has to pay for services up front and then file a claim for reimbursement. The details of such privileges, if they exist, will vary from plan to plan.
Out of Network - The use of health care providers who have not contracted with the health plan to provide services.
Out of Pocket - Copayments, deductibles or fees paid by participants for health services or prescriptions.
Out-of-area benefits - Benefits the health plan provides to covered persons for covered services obtained outside of the network service area. The details of such benefits will vary from plan to plan.
Outpatient care - Any health care service provided to a patient who is not admitted to a facility. Outpatient care may be provided in a doctor's office, clinic, the patient's home or hospital outpatient department.
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P
Paid Amount - The exact amount issued on a bank draft to the provider of service.
Paid-Up - This event occurs when a policy will not require any further premiums to keep the coverage in force.
Paid-Up Additions - Additional amounts of insurance purchased using dividends; these insurance amounts require no further premium payments.
Partial Day Treatment - A program offered by appropriately-licensed facilities that includes either a day or evening treatment program, usually for mental health or substance abuse.
Participant ID - The unique identifier associated with a participant.
Participant - A person who is eligible to receive health benefits under a health benefits plan. This term may refer to the employee, spouse or other dependents.
Participating Provider - A physician, hospital, pharmacy, laboratory or other appropriately licensed facility or provider of health care services or supplies that has entered into an agreement with a managed care entity to provide services or supplies to a patient enrolled in a health benefit plan.
PCP - See Primary Care Physician.
Pended Claim - Claims that require additional information prior to completing the adjudication process due to a specific reason code.
Physical therapy - Rehabilitation concerned with restoration of function and prevention of physical disability following disease, injury or loss of body part.
Policy - The contract issued by the insurance company to the insured.
Policy Owner - The person or party who owns an individual insurance policy. This person may be the insured, the beneficiary or another person. The policy owner usually is the one who pays the premium and is the only person who may make changes to a policy.
Policy Period - The period a policy is in force, from inception date to expiration date.
Policyholder - The group or individual to whom an insurance contract is issued.
POS - Point-of-Service (POS) plan - A health plan allowing the member to choose to receive a service from a participating or non-participating provider, with different benefits levels associated with the use of participating providers.
PPO - Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) - Hospital, physician, or other provider of health care which an insurer recommends to an insured. A PPO allows insurance companies to negotiate directly with hospitals and physicians for health services at a lower price than would be normally charged.
PPO - Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan - A network-based, managed care plan that allows the participant to choose any health care provider. However, if care is received from a "preferred" (participating in-network) provider, there are generally higher benefit coverages and lower deductibles. CIGNA HealthCare's selectSource PPO is an example.
Pre-Admission Certification/Continued Stay Review (PAC/CSR) - The process through which the reviewer evaluates the attending physician's request for admission to an acute care hospital and length of stay. Medical necessity is determined using established criteria. If PAC/CSR is part of the health benefit plan, the admission or continued stay must be certified for full payment of a claim.
Precertification - The process of obtaining certification from the health plan for routine hospital stays or outpatient procedures. The process involves reviewing criteria for benefit coverage determination.
Pre-Existing Condition - A health condition (other than a pregnancy) or medical problem that was diagnosed or treated before enrollment in a new health plan or insurance policy.
Premium - The amount of money an insurance company charges for insurance coverage.
Premium - The consideration for a policy, paid by the insured to the insurer. This term refers to the amount of money being paid to keep insurance coverage in force.
Premium Expense Charges - An amount deducted from each premium payment, which reduces the amount credited to the policy.
Prescription drug - A drug that has been approved by the Federal Food and Drug Administration which can only be dispensed according to physician's prescription order.
Preventive care - Medical and dental services aimed at early detection and intervention.
Primary Care Physician (PCP) - A physician, usually a family or general practitioner, internist or pediatrician, who provides a broad range of routine medical services and refers patients to specialists, hospitals and other providers as necessary. Under some benefits plans, a referral by the primary care physician is required to obtain services from other providers. Each covered family member chooses his or her own PCP from the network's physicians.
Primary care - The basic, comprehensive, routine level of health care typically provided by a person's general or family practitioner, internist or pediatrician.
Prior Authorization - See Precertification
Prosthetic Devices - A device that replaces all or a part of the human body because a part of the body is permanently damaged, is absent or is malfunctioning.
Provider Directory - Provider directories are listings of providers who have contracted with a managed care network to provide care to its participants. Participants may refer to the directory to select in-network providers.
Provider Network - A panel of providers contracted by a health plan to deliver medical services to the enrollees.
Provider - A licensed health care facility, program, agency, physician or health professional that delivers health care services.
Providers - Usually references doctors or those who are providing a medical service.
Public Adjuster - A person hired by you to settle the claim with the insurance company to settle the claim on your behalf.
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Q
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R
Radiation Therapy - Treatment of disease by radiation, radium, cobalt or high energy particle sources.
Reason Code - Reason codes provide explanations of claim status for pended and denied claims.
Referral - If a primary care physician determines that a participant has a condition which requires the attention of a specialist, the physician makes a referral to a specialist. Under some benefits plans, a referral by the primary care physician is required to obtain services from other providers.
Refund - Amount of money being returned to the policyholder.
Reinstatement - The process by which a life insurance company puts back in force a policy which had lapsed because of nonpayment of renewal premiums.
Reinsurance - A form of insurance that insurance companies buy for their own protection.
Renewal Policy - A policy issued as a renewal of a policy expiring in the same company or agency; not new business.
Rescind - To take away or remove. To avoid so as to restore the involved parties to the positions they would have occupied had there been no contract.
Respiratory Therapy - Treatment of illness or disease by introducing dry or moist gases into the lungs.
Return Premium - The premium returned to an insured for canceling or amending a policy.
Rider - A written agreement attached to the policy expanding or limiting the benefits otherwise payable under the policy.
Rule of 78 - This is a method for calculating the amount of unused premium which takes into account the fact that more insurance coverage is required in the early months of the loan, since the payoff of the loan is greater. As the loan is paid off, less coverage is being paid for, so the refund percentage decreases.
Rule of Anticipation - This is a similar method to "Rule of 78" where the amount of unused premium takes into account the fact that more insurance coverage is required in the early months of the loan, since the payoff of the loan is greater. As the loan is paid off, less coverage is being paid for, so the refund percentage decreases.
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S
Second surgical opinion - An employer may purchase in connection with some health care plans benefits plans which can reduce the incidence of unnecessary surgery by providing participants with second opinions.
Service area - The geographical area covered by a network of health care providers.
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) - A licensed facility that provides nursing care and related services for patients who do not require hospitalization in an acute care setting.
Specialists - Providers whose practices are limited to treating a specific disease (e.g., oncologists), specific parts of the body (e.g., ear, nose and throat), a specific age group (e.g., pediatrician), or specific procedures (e.g., oral surgery).
Speech Therapy - Treatment to correct a speech impairment that resulted from birth or from disease, injury or prior medical treatment.
Staff Adjuster - Employee of the insurance company's claim department.
Staff Model HMO - An HMO where doctors are employed by the health plan and provide care at a health care center facility.
Status change - A lifestyle event that may cause a person to modify their health benefits coverage category. Examples include, but are not limited to, the birth of a child, divorce or marriage.
Submission Date - The date the claim was submitted and/or received by the insurer.
Subrogation - Assignment of rights of recovery from insured.
Subscriber -See Enrollee.
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T
Termination Date - The date on which the policy ends.
Third Party Loss - A situation involving a person other than the insurer and insured; i.e., a person making a liability claim against the insured.
TPA - Third Party Administrator (TPA) - An organization that performs managerial and clerical functions related to an employee benefit insurance plan by an individual or committee that is not an original party to the benefit plan.
Transitional Benefits/plans - When an employer changes insurance carriers, transition plans enable participants already in treatment to transition to an in-network health provider. It gives the patient and their current provider a specific number of days to contact the new health care plan in order to discuss the patient's treatment plan and obtain authorization to continue treatment at the in-network benefit level for a specified period of time, or to transition to a contracted professional.
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U
Underwriter - The person who reviews an application for insurance and decides if the applicant is acceptable and at what premium rate.
Underwriting - An insurance company issues a policy when it believes you have a certain level of "risk" or chance of a claim. Underwriting is the process the company uses to decide whether to accept or reject an application. Companies do not make their underwriting guidelines public because they are considered to be trade secrets.
Unearned Premium - The insured's remaining premium equity in his policy; that part of the policy premium that has not been "used up."
Urgent Care - When prompt medical attention is needed in a non-emergency situation, that's called "urgent" care. Examples of urgent care needs include ear infections, sprains, high fevers, vomiting and urinary tract infections. Urgent situations are not considered to be emergencies.
Usual and Customary - These charges may be based on: rates usually charged by physicians and providers in your area; rate averages compiled by independent rating services; or rate averages compiled by the insurance company.
Usual, Customary or Reasonable (UCR) - The amount reimbursed to providers based on the prevailing fees in a specific area.
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V
W

Workers Compensation - Pays for medical care and physical rehabilitation of injured workers and replaces their lost wages while they're unable to work.

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X
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