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Major Medical health insurance policies typically provide comprehensive coverage for hospital, doctor, x-ray and laboratory expenses.
- Browse Related Terms: Actuarial Value, Benefit Level, Coordination of Benefits, Dental Coverage, Excluded Services, Hospital Outpatient Care, Major Medical Health Insurance, Net Capital Gains, Subsidy, Total Cost Estimate (for health coverage)
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A high-limit, high deductible plan to cover catastrophic illness or injury. Major medical used to be called "catastrophic insurance."
- Browse Related Terms: Chronic Condition, Durable Medical Equipment (DME), Emergency Medical Condition, Hospice Services, Major Medical Plan, Public Health, Reconstructive Surgery, Special Health Care Need, Urgent Care
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An organized way to manage costs, use, and quality of the health care system. The major types of managed care plans are health maintenance organizations (HMOs), point-of-service (POS) plans and preferred provider organizations (PPO).
Managed care generally emphasizes cost control and may provide coverage for preventive medicine. There are restrictions on the types of procedures that can be used for each medical condition. The amounts that can be charged for the procedures are described by the terms and conditions of the plan.
- Browse Related Terms: Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) Plan, Health Maintenance Organization, Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), In-Network provider, Managed Care, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C), Medicare Cost Plans, Medicare Select Plans, Out-of-network provider, Point of Service (POS) Plans, Point-of-Service Plan (POS), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), Primary Care Physician (PCP), Referral, Third-Party Payer
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A requirement in state or federal law that all health insurance policies provide coverage for a specific health care service.
- Browse Related Terms: Business Day, Calendar Day, Contestability, Grace Period, Mandated benefit, Mandated Health Benefit, Plan Year, Policy Year, Waiting Period
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Mandated health benefits are benefits that are required to be covered by law. There are both federal and state mandated benefits. In Colorado (as in many states), the mandated health benefits may not apply to all types of health insurance policies or plans offered in the state. Some mandated health benefits are required of group health plans, but not of individual policies. If you have previously been covered by a group health plan, and are now shopping for individual health insurance, check carefully to see what the new policy covers. Many people assume that individual policies will have the same health mandates, and they may not. Covering some of these health mandates is optional for individual health policies.
There are some mandated benefits that are required by federal law, and there are some that are required by state law. Colorado statutes may mandate some benefits for certain types of insurance (benefits that must be covered by group plans, for example), that are not mandated for all types of insurance (such as individual coverage.)
- Browse Related Terms: Business Day, Calendar Day, Contestability, Grace Period, Mandated benefit, Mandated Health Benefit, Plan Year, Policy Year, Waiting Period
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Maryland Health Connection is a marketplace for consumers and small business owners to compare, shop and enroll in health coverage.
- Browse Related Terms: agent, Authorized Representative, Broker, Brokers, Connector Organizations, Exchange, Marketplace, Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), Uninsured
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Low-income children may qualify for free or low-cost health coverage through MCHP, available through Maryland Health Connection.
- Browse Related Terms: Benefits, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Dependent Coverage, Disability, Domestic Partnership, Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Services (EPSDT), Federal Poverty Level (FPL), fee, Health Coverage, Health Insurance Marketplace, Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP), Medicaid, Medicaid/Medical Assistance, Metal Level, State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), State Medical Assistance Office, Subsidized Coverage, TRICARE
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MHIP is the public insurance plan available to individuals who have not been able to qualify for insurance based on a pre-existing condition. MHIP will be phased out starting in 2014 when members may be covered through private insurance and also apply through Maryland Health Connection.
- Browse Related Terms: Creditable Coverage, Creditable Coverage or Prior Qualifying Coverage, Disclosure, Discount Health Plan, Elimination period, Exclusion, High Risk Pool Plan (State), High-risk pool, Maryland Health Insurance Program (MHIP), Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association (MCHA), Portability, Pre-existing Condition, Pre-Existing Condition (Job-based Coverage), Pre-existing condition exclusion, Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Period (Individual Policy), Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Period (Job-based Coverage), Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP), Rider (exclusionary rider)
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A state-administered health insurance program for low-income families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, people with disabilities, and in some states, other adults. The Federal government provides a portion of the funding for Medicaid and sets guidelines for the program. States also have choices in how they design their program, so Medicaid varies state by state and may have a different name in your state.
A state-administered health insurance program for low-income families and children, pregnant women, the elderly, people with disabilities, and in some states such as Maryland other adults. The federal government provides a portion of the funding for Medicaid and sets guidelines for the program. States also have choices in how they design their program.
- Browse Related Terms: Benefits, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Dependent Coverage, Disability, Domestic Partnership, Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Services (EPSDT), Federal Poverty Level (FPL), fee, Health Coverage, Health Insurance Marketplace, Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP), Medicaid, Medicaid/Medical Assistance, Metal Level, State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), State Medical Assistance Office, Subsidized Coverage, TRICARE
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A joint federal-state health insurance program that is run by the states and covers certain low-income people (especially children and pregnant women), and disabled people.
- Browse Related Terms: Benefits, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Dependent Coverage, Disability, Domestic Partnership, Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment Services (EPSDT), Federal Poverty Level (FPL), fee, Health Coverage, Health Insurance Marketplace, Maryland Children’s Health Program (MCHP), Medicaid, Medicaid/Medical Assistance, Metal Level, State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), State Medical Assistance Office, Subsidized Coverage, TRICARE
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The percentage of health insurance premiums that are spent by the insurance company on health care services. The ACA requires that large group plans spend 85 percent of premiums on clinical services and other activities for the quality of care for enrollees. Small group and individual market plans must devote 80 percent of premiums to these purposes. Minnesota passed regulations in 1993 that initially required insurers in the small group market to meet a 75 percent medical loss ratio and individual market insurers to meet a 65 percent loss ratio. Both medical loss ratios increased by 1 percentage point each year until 2000, when the loss ratios were 82 percent in the small group market and 72 percent in the individual market. The loss ratios have remained at these levels since 2000. (See Minn. Stat. 62A.021)
A basic financial measurement used in the Affordable Care Act to encourage health plans to provide value to enrollees. If an insurer uses 80 cents out of every premium dollar to pay its customers' medical claims and activities that improve the quality of care, the company has a medical loss ratio of 80%. A medical loss ratio of 80% indicates that the insurer is using the remaining 20 cents of each premium dollar to pay overhead expenses, such as marketing, profits, salaries, administrative costs, and agent commissions. The Affordable Care Act sets minimum medical loss ratios for different markets, as do some state laws.
- Browse Related Terms: Actuarial justification, Adjusted community rating, Age Rating, Annual Limit, Community rating, Guaranteed Issue, Guaranteed renewability, Guaranteed Renewal, Health Status Rating, Interstate compact, Lifetime limit, Medical Loss Ratio (MLR), Multi-state plan, Qualified health plan, Rate Review, Rating Factors, Rescission, Risk Adjustment, Small group market
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A process used by insurance companies to try to figure out your health status when you're applying for health insurance coverage to determine whether to offer you coverage, at what price, and with what exclusions or limits.
- Browse Related Terms: Appeal, Attest/Attestation, Carriers, Certificate of Coverage, Certificate of Creditable Coverage, Exclusions and/or Limitations, Independent Medical Review (IMR), Insurance Company, Medical Underwriting, policy, Reinsurance, Solvency, Summary of Benefits and Coverage, Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC)
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Health care services or supplies needed to prevent, diagnose or treat an illness, injury, condition, disease or its symptoms and that meet accepted standards of medicine.
Health care services or supplies needed to prevent, diagnose or treat an illness, injury, condition, disease or its symptoms and that meet accepted standards of medicine.
Health care services or supplies needed to prevent, diagnose or treat an illness, injury, condition, disease or its symptoms and that meet accepted standards of medicine.
A drug, device, procedure, treatment plan, or other therapy that is covered under your health insurance policy and that your doctor, hospital, or provider has determined essential for your medical well-being, specific illness, or underlying condition.
- Browse Related Terms: assignment, Care Coordination, Evidence-Based Medicine, Hospital Readmissions, Medically Necessary, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Payment Bundling, Physician Services, primary care, Primary Care Physician, Primary Care Provider, Provider Category, Specialist
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A Federal health insurance program for people who are age 65 or older and certain younger people with disabilities. It also covers people with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a transplant, sometimes called ESRD).
A federal government program that provides health care coverage for all eligible individuals age 65 or older or under age 65 with a disability, regardless of income or assets. Eligible individuals can receive coverage for hospital services (Medicare Part A), medical services (Medicare Part B), and prescription drugs (Medicare Part D). Together, Medicare Part A and B are known as Original Medicare. Benefits can also be provided through a Medicare Advantage plan (Medicare Part C). These plans are regulated by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
- Browse Related Terms: Annual Deductible Combined, Brand Name (Drugs), Donut Hole, Medicare Prescription Drug, Drug Formulary, Drug List, Essential Benefits, Excluded Drugs, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Formulary, Generic Drug, Generic Drugs, Medicare, Medicare Part D, Medicare Prescription Drug Donut Hole, Name-brand Drug, Out-of-Pocket Estimate, Over-the-Counter Drug, Prescription Drug, Prescription Drug Coverage, Prescription Drugs
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An option Medicare beneficiaries can choose to receive most or all of their Medicare benefits through a private insurance company. Also known as Medicare Part C. Plans contract with the federal government and are required to offer at least the same benefits as original Medicare, but may follow different rules and may offer additional benefits. Unlike original Medicare, enrollees may not be covered at any health care provider that accepts Medicare, and may be required to pay higher costs if they choose an out-of-network provider or one outside of the plan's service area. These plans are regulated by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
- Browse Related Terms: Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) Plan, Health Maintenance Organization, Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), In-Network provider, Managed Care, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C), Medicare Cost Plans, Medicare Select Plans, Out-of-network provider, Point of Service (POS) Plans, Point-of-Service Plan (POS), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), Primary Care Physician (PCP), Referral, Third-Party Payer
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A type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide you with all your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits. Medicare Advantage Plans include Health Maintenance Organizations, Preferred Provider Organizations, Private Fee-for-Service Plans, Special Needs Plans, and Medicare Medical Savings Account Plans. If you’re enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare services are covered through the plan and aren’t paid for under Original Medicare. Most Medicare Advantage Plans offer prescription drug coverage.
- Browse Related Terms: Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) Plan, Health Maintenance Organization, Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), In-Network provider, Managed Care, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C), Medicare Cost Plans, Medicare Select Plans, Out-of-network provider, Point of Service (POS) Plans, Point-of-Service Plan (POS), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), Primary Care Physician (PCP), Referral, Third-Party Payer
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Medicare cost plans are a type of HMO that contracts as a Medicare Health Plan. As with other HMOs, the Medicare Cost plan only pays for services outside its service area when they are emergency or urgently needed services. If a Medicare beneficiary enrolled in a Medicare Cost Plan gets any routine services outside of the plan's network without a referral, the Medicare-covered services will be paid for under Original Medicare, and the patient will be responsible for the Original Medicare deductibles and coinsurance.
- Browse Related Terms: Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO) Plan, Health Maintenance Organization, Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), In-Network provider, Managed Care, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Advantage (Medicare Part C), Medicare Cost Plans, Medicare Select Plans, Out-of-network provider, Point of Service (POS) Plans, Point-of-Service Plan (POS), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), Primary Care Physician (PCP), Referral, Third-Party Payer
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A tax under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) that is a United States payroll tax imposed by the Federal government on both employees and employers to fund Medicare.
- Browse Related Terms: COBRA, COBRA coverage, Employer Choice, Employee Choice, Employer Contribution, Employer or Union Retiree Plans, Flexible Benefits Plan, Fully Insured Job-based Plan, Group Health Plan, Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), Job-based Health Plan, Large Group Health Plan, Medicare Hospital Insurance Tax, Premium, Self-insured, Self-Insured Plan, Small Employer, Third Party Administrator (TPA), Wellness Programs, Worker's compensation
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A program that helps pay for prescription drugs for people with Medicare who join a plan that includes Medicare prescription drug coverage. There are two ways to get Medicare prescription drug coverage: through a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan that includes drug coverage. These plans are offered by insurance companies and other private companies approved by Medicare.
- Browse Related Terms: Annual Deductible Combined, Brand Name (Drugs), Donut Hole, Medicare Prescription Drug, Drug Formulary, Drug List, Essential Benefits, Excluded Drugs, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Formulary, Generic Drug, Generic Drugs, Medicare, Medicare Part D, Medicare Prescription Drug Donut Hole, Name-brand Drug, Out-of-Pocket Estimate, Over-the-Counter Drug, Prescription Drug, Prescription Drug Coverage, Prescription Drugs
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Most plans with Medicare prescription drug coverage (Part D) have a coverage gap (called a "donut hole"). This means that after you and your drug plan have spent a certain amount of money for covered drugs, you have to pay all costs out-of-pocket for your prescriptions up to a yearly limit. Once you have spent up to the yearly limit, your coverage gap ends and your drug plan helps pay for covered drugs again.
- Browse Related Terms: Annual Deductible Combined, Brand Name (Drugs), Donut Hole, Medicare Prescription Drug, Drug Formulary, Drug List, Essential Benefits, Excluded Drugs, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Formulary, Generic Drug, Generic Drugs, Medicare, Medicare Part D, Medicare Prescription Drug Donut Hole, Name-brand Drug, Out-of-Pocket Estimate, Over-the-Counter Drug, Prescription Drug, Prescription Drug Coverage, Prescription Drugs