Glossary of Health Insurance Terms

Basic coverage

This includes basic medical or surgical care and hospitalization, exclusive of major medical coverage.

Benefit days

The number of days for which a subscriber may receive benefits during a period of illness. Our most popular institutional coverage provides for 70 or 120 benefit days.

Benefit period

The period of time for which payments for covered services are available. A period begins, for example, when a patient is admitted to a hospital and ends when at least 90 days have passed during which the patient has not been confined in any hospital or similar institution.

Clinical peer reviewer

A clinical peer reviewer is defined as a physician who possesses a current and valid non-restricted license to practice medicine in the same profession/specialty as the health provider who typically manages the medical condition, or a health care professional other than a licensed physician who, where applicable, possesses a current and valid non-restricted license, certification, or registration or, where no provision for a license, certificate, or registration exists, is credentialed by the national accrediting body appropriate to the profession and is in the same profession/specialty as the health care provider who typically manages the medical condition or provides the treatment at issue. The clinical peer reviewer cannot be subordinate to the reviewer at the initial utilization review determination level.

Coinsurance

You pay a percentage of health care costs. Depending on your plan, you may have to meet a deductible first.

Commercial carrier

Usually a for-profit insurance company which competes with Plans for health insurance business.

Community rating

A method of establishing premium rates for small groups (100 members and below) and direct pay or non-group subscribers. The intent is to spread the risk evenly among all subscribers in the pool.

Contract

A legal agreement between the Plan and subscribers citing benefits, limitations and exclusions which determine responsibilities of both parties.

Control plan

A local plan responsible for determining rates, benefits and method of administering a national account group with employees or members located in more than one plan territory.

Conversion privilege

The right of a group member, when leaving the group, to obtain direct payment coverage, without proof of insurability, similar to the coverage provided by the group.

Coordination of Benefits (COB)

Provisions and procedures used by insurers to avoid duplicate payments for subscribers and families insured under more than one group policy. COB attempts to ensure that subscribers receive all benefits they are entitled to without profiting from illness or injury.

Copayment (also known as "copay")

You pay a fixed dollar amount for health care costs. Depending on your plan, you may have to meet a deductible first.

Cost sharing

You pay a portion of health care costs based on your insurance plan. These out‐of‐pocket expenses typically include deductibles, copayments and coinsurance.

Deductible

You pay a deductible for health care coverage before we start contributing. Depending on your plan, copayment and coinsurance begin once you've met this deductible max amount.

Designee

An individual that you designate in writing to represent you.

Direct pay

Subscribers who are billed individually and pay premiums directly to the Plan. Frequently these subscribers are referred to as non-group members.

Eligibility

The right to receive benefits based on the type of contracts held. Eligibility for local group, direct and Medicare Extended subscribers is determined locally. National Accounts' eligibility is determined through the central certification process and the Social Security Administration determines it for the federal Medicare program.

Enrollment

The procedure by which individuals or groups become subscribers. Total membership is referred to as total enrollment.

Exclusions

Contract provisions which cite situations, conditions or treatments that are not covered.

Experience rating

A method of determining premiums based on the cost and use of benefits for specific groups. All of our groups having 101 or more subscribers are experience-rated.

Explanation of Benefits (EOB)

A statement sent to the subscriber explaining action taken by the Plan regarding a claim filed on their behalf.

Fee schedule

A listing of established allowances for specific procedures. It usually represents either standard or maximum amounts the insurer pays.

Fee for service

An arrangement under which patients pay doctors, hospital or other health-care providers for each service rendered. Most then seek reimbursement from a private insurer or the government.

Group coverage

An insurance plan by which a number of employees or other group members and their dependents are insured under a single policy or contract.

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

An organized system for providing health care in a geographic area that assures delivery of basic and supplemental health maintenance and treatment services to a voluntarily enrolled group of people for a predetermined, fixed prepayment fee. As a member of a Health Maintenance Organization or HMO, you must receive all your care from a panel of participating physicians, consultants and facilities. This panel is sometimes referred to as participating providers or as a participating network. To receive your benefits, all services need to be provided within the participating panel and rendered by or referred by your primary physician (PCP). Except for emergencies, certain ob/gyn services and certain other services, when your PCP determines you require the services of a specialist, they will contact us to request approval.

Home health care

Nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapy given at a patient's home.

Hospice care

A program providing palliative and supportive care for terminally ill patients and their families.

In-network benefits

Covered services that are provided by doctors and other healthcare professionals, medical groups, hospitals and other healthcare facilities that have an agreement with us to provide care to members in our plans.

Indemnity benefits

Established dollar allowances for covered services. Payments are made toward the charge, not necessarily as payment in full.

Individual Practice Association (IPA)

A source of health care services provided by a group of independent care providers who agree to provide care for a corporation, company or association at rates agreed upon by both parties.

Inpatient

An individual who occupies a hospital bed while receiving hospital care. Services include room, board and general nursing care.

Intermediary

An organization selected to process and pay claims for provider services based on directives and guidelines issued by the sponsoring or authorizing organization-usually the federal (Medicare) or state (Medicaid) government.

Managed care

A popular term used by many to denote intercession in a patient's care by a third party to accomplish cost savings goals. For example, an insured group might insist on second surgical opinion or prior approval before surgery.

Master/major medical

Benefit programs designed to help offset high costs of catastrophic or prolonged illness or injury. Most of these programs incorporate deductibles and lifetime maximum amounts.

Medicaid

The medical assistance program for the indigent enacted by Congress in 1965. The program is the responsibility of the states which share the costs with the federal government.

Medicare

The federal health insurance program for persons 65 years of age or those under 65 who are totally disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration. Part A provides coverage for hospital inpatient services. Part B refers to medical-surgical services.

Membership

Includes any person covered by a subscriber contract or certificate.

National account

A benefit program designed to provide uniform coverage to an organization which has members in more than one Plan area.

Non-participating provider

A health care provider who has no agreement with us to provide contract benefits to our members.

Open enrollment

A period of time when new subscribers may choose or be permitted to enroll in health insurance programs. We operate on a year-round open enrollment policy. Other Plans may limit open enrollment to one or two 30-day periods annually.

Other party liability

See Coordination of Benefits (COB).

Out-of-network benefits

Covered services that are not provided, rendered or referred by your primary care physician.

Out-of-pocket maximum

This is the most you will pay within a plan year. After you've reached this out‐of‐pocket maximum amount, we pay for covered services.

Out-of-pocket expenses

You pay out‐of‐pocket for health care services and related costs. These expenses are not reimbursed by your plan.

Outpatient

An individual receiving hospital care but not occupying a hospital bed as an inpatient.

Participating provider

A health care provider who has an agreement with us to provide benefits to our members.

Peer review

The evaluation by practicing physicians or other health care providers of the effectiveness and efficacy of services provided by other members of the same profession.

Peer review organizations (PRO)

Peer review organizations were mandated under the Peer Review Organization Act of 1982 to replace professional standards review organizations. The act authorizes one PRO for each state. PROs perform utilization and quality of care review for Medicare hospital patients.

Physician hospital organization (PHO)

An integrated health care delivery system with one or more hospitals entering a joint venture arrangement with one or more physician groups. The PHO maintains managed care contracts for inpatient as well as physician services.

Point of service (POS)

This plan is a managed care program that has two components: in-network benefits and out-of-network benefits. You receive the highest level of coverage when you receive in-network benefits. When you receive out-of-network benefits, you will incur higher out-of-pocket expenses. You will be responsible for meeting an annual deductible before services are reimbursed and paying a fixed percentage coinsurance amount or co-payment for out-of-network services. You may also need to pay the difference between our payment and the actual charges for services received.

Pre-existing conditions

Pre-existing conditions are defined as any disease, illness, ailment, or other condition (whether physical or mental) for which, within 6 months before your enrollment date of coverage, medical advice, diagnosis, care, or treatment was recommended or received.

Preferred provider organization

An arrangement under which an insurance company or employer negotiates discounted fees with networks of health-care providers in return for guaranteeing a certain volume of patients. Enrollees in a PPO can elect to receive treatment outside the network but have to pay higher co-payments or deductibles for it.

Premium

You pay a premium to obtain health insurance. This monthly amount is set by your health insurance company.

Primary care physician (PCP)

Your PCP is your partner in managing and coordinating your health care services. If you are a member of an HMO plan, your PCP is responsible for coordinating all of your medical care, including diagnosis, treatment, referrals to specialists, hospitalization, and follow-up care. They work with a team of health care professionals, which may include physician assistants and nurse practitioners, to provide your treatment. Your PCP may be certified in internal medicine, family practice, general practice, or pediatrics. Women may also choose a gynecologist/obstetrician as their secondary PCP.

Reciprocity

A national program to provide Plans with the ability to cover benefits for subscribers outside their home Plan area.

Reserves

The amount set aside for future or unanticipated losses or contingent liabilities. Statutory reserves, mandated by Article 43 of the New York State Insurance Law, must be 12.5% of premium income. If less than the statutory requirement of 12.5% is available, authorization to invade the reserve must be received from the New York State Insurance Department.

Retrospective reimbursement

Payments to providers of care for costs or charges actually incurred previously. Payment is based on charges or cost of care provided.

Rider

A document which modifies coverage of a contract either by expanding or diminishing benefits.

Self-insurance

The practice of a group, employer or association assuming complete financial responsibility for health insurance losses incurred by the membership.

Service benefits

The provision of benefits without additional charges to the patient for services covered by the contract (paid-in-full coverage).

Skilled nursing facility

An organization with a medical staff and professional nursing services which provides comprehensive inpatient care usually for short periods and serves convalescent patients not acutely ill.

Specialist

A physician or health care professional, not the primary care physician, who is certified to practice in a specified field of medicine (for example, a cardiologist).

Stop-loss

Insuring with a third party against a risk that the plan cannot financially manage. For example, a health plan can self-insure hospitalization costs, or it can insure hospitalization costs with one or more insurance companies.

Third party administrators (TPA)

Organizations hired to provide certain administration services to group benefit plans. Their functions may include premium accounting, claims review and payment, utilization reviews and other services. TPA's are most commonly employed by self funded groups.

Treatment plan

Documentation of health services, such as rehabilitation services or restorative care, necessary to improve a member's health, based on the provider's evaluation and progress of the member.

Usual, customary, and reasonable (UCR)

Health insurance programs that pay the physician's full charge provided that charge (1) does not exceed their usual fee, (2) does not exceed the amount customarily charged in that area for the same service and (3) is otherwise reasonable.

Utilization review

An evaluation of the necessity, appropriateness and efficacy of the use of medical or institutional services.

Waiting period

The time between the effective date of a contract and the date the Plan will assume liability for certain services - frequently in regard to pre-existing conditions.

Workers' compensation

Coverage available from federal or state compensation acts for expenses resulting from job-related illness or injury.