Generic drug Â­ the chemical equivalent to a "brand name drug." These drugs cost less, and the savings is passed onto health plan members in the form of a lower co-pay.
indemnity insurance plans -traditional insurance plans (not HMOs or PPOs) which permit insured individuals to choose their doctors and hospitals. Insured individuals do not have to choose doctors or hospitals from a specific list of providers. Also called "fee-for-service" plans.
lifetime maximum benefit -the maximum amount a health plan will pay in benefits to an insured individual.
long-term disability (LTD) -insurance which pays employees a percentage of monthly earnings in the event of disability.
referral Â­ within many managed care plans, transfer to specialty physician or specialty care by a primary care physician.
short-term medical -temporary health coverage for an individual for a short period of time, usually from 30 days to six months.
small employer group - groups with 1 Â­ 99 employees. The definition of small employer group may vary between states.
state mandated benefits -state laws requiring that commercial health insurance plans include specific benefits.