the most common healthcare terms defined
A fixed amount you pay for a service. Usually they range from $5-$75 depending on the type of care.
A percentage that you pay for services after you have met your deductible.
Example: $750 service, with a $300 deductible and 20% coinsurance
Your deductible responsibility: $300
Your coinsurance responsibility: $90 ($750 - 300 = $450. $450 x 20% = $90)
Your total responsibility on this service: $390
The amount of money the insurance company and provider have agreed to pay/be paid for the medical service.
CPT CODE
A five digit code that describes the service a doctor provides. Each CPT code is tied to a charge for that service, and is billed with ICD diagnosis codes. There are hundreds of CPT codes, we listed a few examples below:
99203: New patient office visit
99213: Established patient office visit
76536: Ultrasound of the thyroid
90736: Shingles vaccine
Think about the CPT as the “what” of the visit, and the ICD diagnosis code as the “why.”
CT SCAN
CT stands for “computed tomography - they are also called CAT scans.
Also called CAT scans, these are a type of x-ray imaging performed on various parts of the body. These are much more expensive than x-rays, so you may want to double check your benefits and shop around for prices at independent imaging facilities.
The amount you owe for a service before insurance begins to pay a portion.
Example: $750 service, with a $300 deductible and 20% coinsurance
Your deductible responsibility: $300
Your coinsurance responsibility: $90 ($750 - 300 = $450. $450 x 20% = $90)
Your total responsibility on this service: $390
Stands for Explanation of Benefits. This is a document your insurance company sends to you a few weeks after a service that outlines the charges from the provider, the allowed amount by insurance, and your responsibility.
EOB
A Flexible Spending Account is an account that is available with many health plans through an employer. Annual contributions are not subject to federal income taxes, social security taxes, or Medicare taxes, but you must spend your funds by the end of the year or you will lose them. Learn more here. Need to use your funds? Check out the FSA friendly gift guides here and here.
FSA
HEALTHCARE NAVIGATOR
A Healthcare Navigator is basically your healthcare spirit guide. Anyone can schedule a free appointment with a Healthcare Navigator and the they will walk you through your eligibility for Medicaid, Medicare, or plans on the marketplace. They can also answer questions about how the health insurance plans work and can help determine which one is best for you.
These are an invaluable resource that don’t get a ton of publicity. Find your local Healthcare Navigator here.
HMO
Stands for Health Maintenance Organization. When you enroll in an HMO plan you designate one primary care physician (PCP) from your network that acts as a starting point for your care. To see a specialist, you first visit your PCP who will either treat you or write a referral to a specialist. HMO plans are often lower cost than PPO plans, but have more limited networks.
A Health Savings Account is an account that is paired with most High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) that allows you to set aside pre-tax money to pay for qualified medical expenses. HSA contributions are not subject to standard income taxes, interest earned in the account is tax free, and distributions may be tax free if you use them to pay for qualified medical expenses. Learn more here.
HSA
ICD DIAGNOSIS CODE
Billed in conjunction with CPT codes to describe the “why” of the service billed. If the ICD diagnosis code doesn’t align with the CPT code billed, the service may be denied.
Care that requires an overnight stay at a hospital. Inpatient care is usually reserved for complex procedures and involves monitoring by medical staff.
Examples:
Cesarian section
Total knee replacement
Many heart and back procedures
INPATIENT CARE
A state-administered government program that most commonly provides healthcare coverage for low income people. Eligibility and benefits vary on a state-by-state basis. Learn more.
MEDICAID
A nationally-administered government program that most commonly provides healthcare coverage for the elderly. Learn more.
MEDICARE
MRI
Stands for magnetic resonance imaging, it’s a type of imaging that uses magnetic fields. These are much more expensive than x-rays, so you may want to double check your benefits and shop around for prices at independent imaging facilities.
NURSE PRACTITIONER
Someone who evaluates your medical situation, prescribes medication, diagnosis illness, and provides treatment.
They have similar responsibilities to a doctor with a narrower scope, which may also vary based on local laws. Learn more about various providers here.
OUT-OF-POCKET MAXIMUM
The maximum amount you are responsible for paying each plan year.
This usually is met if you have several procedures in one year. Once the out of pocket maximum is met, the insurance company will pay for 100% of the cost of medically necessary services received from in-network providers.
Healthcare services that do not require an overnight stay in a facility (i.e. hospital, etc.)
OUTPATIENT CARE
PHYSICIAN’S ASSITANT (PA)
Someone that will evaluate your medical situation, prescribes medication, diagnosis illness, and provides treatment.
They have similar responsibilities to a doctor with a narrower scope, which may also vary based on local laws. Learn more about various providers here.
Stands for Preferred Provider Organization. PPO plans allow you to be more flexible when choosing your doctor, but often come at a higher price than the more restrictive HMO plan.
PPO
Prescriptions are categorized by your insurer into different tiers. Typically, the lower the tier, the less expensive the prescription. For example, Tier 1 typically includes generic prescriptions and are the cheapest.
To determine which tier your prescriptions are in, check your plan’s drug list by calling your insurer or logging into your account on your insurer’s website. Once you determined the tier, check your plan’s Summary of Benefits page to understand your copay or coinsurance responsibility. BCBS of Michigan offers a detailed guide for their plans here - check it out as an example, but check your insurer’s website for details on your specific plan.