Health Insurance Glossary
View a listing of health care abbreviations and acronyms.
Schedule of Allowances
List of dollar amounts payable for medical and surgical procedures performed by a provider.
Second Opinion
The option or recommendation to visit another physician or surgeon regarding diagnosis, course of treatment or having specific types of elective surgery performed.
Second Surgical Opinion (SSO)
Included among the features of Medical Management programs, SSO provides coverage for a second opinion from a qualified surgical specialist to group members seeking elective surgery. Mandatory SSO requires that group members seek the second opinion.
Self-Insurance
Practice of an individual, group of individuals, employer or organization that assumes complete responsibility for losses, which might be insured against, such as health care expenses. In effect, "self-insured" groups have no real insurance against potential losses and instead maintain a fund out of which is paid the contingent liability subject to self-insurance.
Service Area
The geographic area in which a health plan delivers health care through a contracted network of participating providers.
Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)
A licensed institution (or a distinct part of a hospital) that provides continuous skilled nursing care and related services for patients who require medical care, nursing care or rehabilitation services.
Specialist
A participating physician who provides non-routine care, such as a dermatologist or orthopedist.
Speech Therapy
Treatment of the correction of a speech impairment, which resulted from birth, disease, injury or prior medical treatment.
Standard HealthyBlue
Also known as HealthyBlue 2.0, an enhanced, innovative health care plan that offers cost savings, ease of use and gives you greater control of your health and access to health care.
Subscriber
The employee or member of a group who applies for coverage or applies for coverage on an individual, or has a non-employer-sponsored contract and is the person whose name is on the contract. See Policyholder.
Substance Abuse/Chemical Dependency
The use of any drug for purposes other than those for which it is normally intended or in a manner or in quantities other than directed. Chemical dependence is the compulsion to continue taking a drug to produce desired effects or to prevent the onset of ill effects that occur when it is not taken.