Waiting Period
This refers to a pre-specified time period during which you will not be covered by your insurance (for a particular healthcare issue).
Travel Health Insurance
This insurance is purchased to provide you with coverage when you’re traveling abroad.
Small Business Health Insurance
This is a type of healthcare coverage that is available to businesses employing between two and fifty employees. It offers discounted premiums to employees and tax advantages to small business owners; also in most cases, the coverage cannot be denied.
Short Term Health Insurance
This type of healthcare plan is purchased to provide you with benefits during coverage gaps between jobs, after a move, or while you’re traveling overseas.
Rider
This refers to any policy attachment that makes additions or changes to your original insurance plan.
Provider
This term refers to any individual (nurse, physician, or specialist) or institution (clinic, hospital, or laboratory) that provides you with care.
Primary Care Physician
Most HMOs and POS plans will require you to select one family physician, pediatrician or internist to monitor your health, treat most of your health problems, and refer you to specialists when necessary.
Preventative Care
Health services that focus solely on preventative care measures such as physical exams, immunizations, diagnostic tests and mammograms.
Premium
The dollar amount you’ll pay on a monthly basis in exchange for your insurance coverage.
Pre-existing Conditions
This refers to any healthcare issues you had prior to your insurance plan’s effective date. Many policies will refuse to cover pre-existing conditions, while others do so only for a short time.