Healthcare Vocabulary

1. Financial protection against the healthcare costs caused by treating disease or accidental injury.
5. A person who is eligible for or receiving benefits under an insurance policy or plan.
6. Flat fees or payments (often $5-10) that a patient pays for each doctor visit or prescription.
7. An account that lets workers set aside pretax dollars to pay for medical benefits, childcare, and other services.
9. Medical treatment rendered to people whose illnesses or medical problems are short-term or don't require long-term continuing care.
14. How many times people use particular healthcare services during particular periods of time.
16. Large businesses, small businesses, and individuals who form a group for insurance coverage.
17. A medical condition that starts suddenly and requires immediate care.
19. Status granted to a medical specialist who completes required training and passes and examination in his/her specialized area.
20. A medical problem that will not improve, that lasts a lifetime, or recurs.

2. A healthcare procedure that is not an emergency and that the patient and doctor plan in advance.
3. A list of medications that a managed care company encourages or requires physicians to prescribe as necessary in order to reduce costs.
4. A nurse specialist who provides primary and/or specialty care to patients. In some states nurse practitioners do not have to be supervised by a doctor.
6. A private organization, usually an insurance company, that finances healthcare.
8. An insurance program for people with low incomes who are unable to afford healthcare. Funded by Govt. and provided by states.
10. A percentage of providers' fees that managed care companies hold back from providers which is only given to them if the amount of care they provide (or that the entire plan provides) is under a budgeted amount for each quarter or the whole year.
11. Law requiring that a health plan or insurance carrier must offer a particular procedure or type of coverage.
12. A person who has been admitted to a hospital or other health facility, for a period of at least 24 hours.
13. The person enrolled in a health plan.
15. A person's ability to obtain healthcare services.
18. When one group of patients does not pay for services, such as uninsured or Medicare patients, healthcare providers pass on the costs for these health services to other groups of patients.