Health Insurance Terms I-Z

Click on a letter to quickly jump to that part of the alphabet.

                 

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Indemnity Contracts:
Policies covering a specific amount per day for hospital stays or long-term facility costs.

Indemnity Insurance Plans:
Plans covering medical services provided by any doctor or hospital

Intermediate Nursing Care:
Care with minimal supervision.

Intermediary:
Individual or insurance company responsible for paying health care costs.

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Limited Health Insurance:
Policies with restricted coverage for injuries and illnesses.

Long-Term Care:
Extended health care for disabled or older individuals - i.e adult day care, hospice care, respite care, and intermediate care.

Long-Term Care Insurance:
Insurance that covers the cost of long term care.

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Major Medical Insurance:
Insurance covering the costs related to hospitalization.

Managed Care:
Health insurance plans with low cost but care is limited to doctors within the network.

Maximum Out-of-Pocket:
Maximum amount you are required to pay within a year for deductibles and coinsurance.

Medicaid:
Government funded health insurance program for low-income individuals.

Medical Savings Accounts:
Tax-exempt savings account used for medical costs.

Medicare:
Government funded program providing health insurance for individuals 65 and older or disabled.

Medicare Supplemental Insurance:
Covers the expenses of health care not included under Medicare.

Medigap:
See "Medicare Supplemental Insurance".

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Non-cancelable Policy:
Policy that is guaranteed renewable.

Nursing Home Care:
Health care received in a nursing home.

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Point of Service (POS):
Managed care plan that covers some expense associated with non-network care.

Pre certification:
The approval an insured individual must get before certain health care services are obtained.

Preexisting Condition:
A health problem that existed before your insurance was effective.

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO):
Managed care plan that covers some expense associated with non-network care.

Premium:
The monthly payment for insurance coverage.

Preventative Care:
Health care services for prevention.

Primary Care Physician (PCP):
Doctor who monitors your health and recommends specialists.

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Respite Care:
Temporary care.

Rider:
An attachment that changes a standard insurance form.

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Self-Employed Health Insurance:
Insurance for the self-employed.

Short Term Health Insurance:
Provides coverage during gaps between policies

Small Business Health Insurance:
Businesses with between 2 and 50 employees are eligible.

Stop-Loss Provision:
The out-of-pocket amount the insurance company agrees to pay 100% of your medical expenses.

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Travel Health Insurance:
Coverage for when you travel abroad.

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Usual, Customary and Reasonable Charges:
The price for medical services the insurance company determines to be the average charge for similar procedures in a given geographical location.

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