Insurance terms

These are health plans in which an employer assumes the financial risk of providing healthcare benefits to its employees instead of purchasing a traditional insurance plan.

These plans offer temporary coverage for a limited period, often used as a bridge between more comprehensive plans or during temporary gaps in coverage.

Silver plans, one of the tiers of health insurance plans under the ACA, offer a moderate balance between monthly premiums and out-of-pocket costs. They're the middle-ground option for those seeking decent coverage without paying the highest premiums.

This is a healthcare system in which a single entity, typically the government, is responsible for financing healthcare services for all citizens.

These are health insurance plans designed for businesses with few employees. They often offer group coverage with different options for the employees.

This is a healthcare system in which the government owns or heavily regulates healthcare facilities and pays for medical services, aiming to provide universal healthcare coverage for all citizens.

This is a bonus chance to sign up for health insurance or change your plan outside the usual enrollment period. You can enroll in health insurance if you've had certain qualifying life events, such as losing health coverage, moving to a new area, getting married, having a baby, adopting a child, or experiencing a significant change in income. The Special Enrollment Period typically lasts for a limited time after the qualifying event, allowing individuals to secure adequate healthcare coverage during critical life transitions.

A physician specialist focuses on a specific area of medicine or a group of patients to diagnose, manage, prevent, or treat certain types of symptoms and conditions. A non-physician specialist is a provider with more training in a specific area of health care.

These are medications specifically designed to treat complex or chronic conditions. They often require special handling, administration, or monitoring and can be more expensive than typical medications.

These are health insurance plans specifically tailored for students, often offered by colleges or universities to cover medical needs while studying. Even if you can access a student healthcare plan, you can apply for coverage (or stay covered) through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Subsidies refer to financial assistance from the government to lower the cost of health insurance premiums for eligible individuals and families and make health coverage more affordable. Subsidies are based on income, meaning eligibility and subsidy amount depend on your household earnings, and feature reduced premiums that help make monthly payments more manageable. Subsidies are available through government-run health insurance marketplaces and may vary by state.

These are policies for very specific health coverage, such as dental, vision, or hospitalization, which supplement your health insurance coverage in areas where you need additional support. There are many of these types of policies available, including for hearing care, cancer treatments, hospital expenses, and even final expenses in the event of death.