Glossary of Definitions

Use the alphabetic list to be directed to a specific area of the Glossary.


A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J| K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T| U | V | W | X | Y | Z|

A (return to top of page)

After Hours Care - services received in a Physician's office at times other than regularly scheduled office hours, including days when the office is normally closed (e.g., holidays or Sundays).  

Alcoholism - a Condition classified as a mental disorder and described in the International Classification of Diseases,ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) or the most recent version, as alcohol dependence, abuse or alcoholic psychosis.  

Allowed Amount - For Network Providers, this means the lesser of the Negotiated Amount or Billed Charges, and for Non-Network Providers, this means the maximum amount determined as payable and allowed by CCP for a Covered Service provided by a Provider based on certain factors, including, but not limited to, the following:  

  • Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)'s Resource Based Value Scale (RBRVS)
 
  • Other fee schedules
 
  • Input from Network Physicians and wholesale prices (where applicable)
 
  • Geographic considerations
 
  • Other economic and statistical indicators
 

Application - all questionnaires and forms required by CCP to determine your eligibility.  

B (return to top of page)

Basic Health Care Services

  • Emergency Care Services
 
  • Inpatient Hospital services, meaning Medically Necessary Hospital services including, but not limited to, room and board; general nursing care; special diets when Medically Necessary; use of operating room and related facilities; use of intensive care units and services; x-ray, laboratory and other diagnostic tests; drugs, medications, biologicals, anesthesia and oxygen services; special nursing when Medically Necessary; physical therapy, radiation therapy and inhalation therapy; administration of whole blood and blood plasma; and short-term rehabilitation services.
 
  • Inpatient Physician care services, meaning Medically Necessary health care services performed, prescribed, or supervised by Physicians or other health professionals including diagnostic, therapeutic, medical, surgical, preventive, referral and consultative health care services.  

  • Outpatient medical services, meaning preventive and Medically Necessary health care services provided in a Physician's office, a non-hospital-based health care facility or at a Hospital. Outpatient medical services shall include, but are not limited to: diagnostic services; treatment services; laboratory services; x-ray services; referral services; and physical therapy, radiation therapy and inhalation therapy. Outpatient services shall also include preventive health services which shall include, at least, a broad range of voluntary family planning counseling services, well-child care from birth, periodic health evaluations for adults, screening to determine the need for vision and hearing correction, and pediatric and adult immunizations in accordance with accepted medical practice.  

Benefit Period - the period of time specified in the Schedule of Benefits during which Covered Services are rendered, and benefit maximums, Deductibles, Coinsurance Limits and Non-Network Coinsurance Limits are accumulated. The first and/or last Benefit Periods may be less than 12 months depending on the Effective Date and the date your coverage terminates.  

Billed Charges - the amount billed on the claim submitted by the Provider for services and supplies provided to a Covered Person.  

C (return to top of page)

Certificate - a document that contains the coverage details  

Certificate Holder - an eligible employee or participant of the Group who has enrolled for coverage under the terms and conditions of the Group Contract.  

Coinsurance - a percentage of the Allowed Amount for which you are responsible after you have met your Deductible or paid your Copayment.  

Coinsurance Limit - the maximum amount of Coinsurance that a Covered Person will have to pay during a Benefit Period.  

Condition - an injury, ailment, disease, illness or disorder.  

Contract - the agreement between CCP and your Group referred to as the Group Contract. The Contract includes the Group Application, individual Applications of the Certificate Holders, this Certificate, Schedules of Benefits and any Riders or addenda.  

Copayment - a dollar amount, if specified in the Schedule of Benefits, that you are required to pay each time you receive certain Covered Services.  

Covered Charges - the Billed Charges less non-covered items.  

Covered Person - the Certificate Holder, and if family coverage is in force, the Certificate Holder's Eligible Dependent(s) as defined in the Eligibility section of this Certificate.  

Covered Service - a Provider's service or supply as described in this Certificate for which CCP will provide benefits.  

Creditable Coverage - coverage of an individual under any of the following:  

  • a group health plan, including church and governmental plans;
 
  • health insurance coverage;
 
  • Part A or Part B of Title XVIII of the Social Security Act (Medicare);
 
  • Title XIX of the Social Security Act, other than coverage consisting solely of benefits under Section 1928 (Medicaid);
 
  • the health plan for active military personnel, including TRICARE;
 
  • the Indian Health Service or other tribal organization program;
 
  • a state health benefits risk pool;
 
  • the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program;
 
  • a public health plan as defined in federal regulations;
 
  • a health benefit plan under section 5 (c) of the Peace Corps Act; or
 
  • any other plan that provides coverage for comprehensive hospital, medical and surgical services.
 

Custodial Care - care that does not require the constant supervision of skilled medical personnel to assist the patient in meeting his or her activities of daily living. Custodial Care is care which can be taught to and administered by a lay person and includes but is not limited to:  

  • administration of medication which can be self-administered or administered by a lay person; or
 
  • help in walking, bathing, dressing, feeding or the preparation of special diets.
 

Custodial Care does not include care provided for its therapeutic value in the treatment of a Condition.  

Custodian - a person who, by court order, has custody of a child.

D (return to top of page)

Deductible - an amount, usually stated in dollars, for which you are responsible each Benefit Period before CCP will start to provide benefits.  

Drug Abuse - a Condition classified as a mental disorder and described in the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) or the most recent version, as drug dependence abuse or drug psychosis.  

E (return to top of page)

Effective Date - 12:01 a.m. on the date when your coverage begins, as determined by your Group and CCP.  

Emergency Care Services

 
 

Emergency Medical Condition - a medical Condition manifesting itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity, including severe pain, such that a prudent layperson who possesses an average knowledge of health and medicine could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in:  

  • placing the health of the individual, or with respect to a pregnant woman, the health of the woman or her unborn child, in serious jeopardy;
 
  • serious impairment to bodily functions; or
 
  • serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part.
 

Excess Charges - the difference between Billed Charges and the Allowed Amount.You may be responsible for Excess Charges when you receive services from a Non-Network Provider.  

Experimental or Investigational Drug, Device, Medical Treatment or Procedure - a drug, device, medical treatment or procedure is Experimental or Investigational:  

  • if the drug or device cannot be lawfully marketed without approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and approval for marketing has not been given at the time the drug or device is furnished;
 
  • if reliable evidence shows that the drug, device, medical treatment or procedure is the subject of on-going phase I, II or III clinical trials or is under study to determine maximum tolerated dose, toxicity, safety, efficacy, or efficacy as compared with the standard means of treatment or diagnosis; or
 
  • if reliable evidence shows that the consensus of opinion among experts regarding the drug, device, medical treatment or procedure is that further studies or clinical trials are necessary to determine its maximum tolerated dose, toxicity, safety, efficacy or efficacy as compared with the standard means of treatment or diagnosis.
 

Reliable evidence means only published reports and articles in the authoritative medical and scientific literature; the written protocol or protocols used by the treating facility or the protocol(s) of another facility studying substantially the same drug, device, medical treatment or procedure; or the written informed consent used by the treating facility or by another facility studying substantially the same drug, device, medical treatment or procedure. Determination will be made by CCP at its sole discretion and will be final and conclusive.  

F (return to top of page)

Full-time Student - an Eligible Dependent who is enrolled at an accredited institution of higher learning. It must be certified annually that the student meets the institution's requirements for full-time status.  

H (return to top of page)

Hospital- a duly licensed Institution which provides general and specialized Inpatient medical care. The term "Hospital" does not include a convalescent facility, nursing home or any Institution or part thereof which is used principally as a convalescent facility, rest facility, nursing facility or facility for the aged.  

I (return to top of page)

Immediate Family - the Certificate Holder and the Certificate Holder's spouse, parents, stepparents, grandparents, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, children and stepchildren by blood, marriage or adoption.  

Incurred - rendered to you by a Provider. All services rendered by the Institutional Provider during an Inpatient admission prior to termination of coverage are considered to be Incurred on the date of admission.  

Inpatient - a Covered Person who receives care as a registered bed patient in a Hospital or Other Facility Provider where a room and board charge is made.  

Institution (Institutional) - a Hospital or Other Facility Provider.  

L (return to top of page)

Legal Guardian - an individual who is either the natural guardian of a child or who was appointed a guardian of a child in a legal proceeding by a court having the appropriate jurisdiction.  

M (return to top of page)

Medical Care - professional services received from a Physician or an Other Professional Provider to treat a Condition.  

Medically Necessary (or Medical Necessity) - appropriate and necessary services as determined by any Provider affiliated with CCP that are rendered to a Covered Person for any Condition requiring, according to generally accepted principles of good medical practice, the diagnosis or direct care and treatment of an illness or injury and are not provided only as a convenience.  

Medicare - the program of health care for the aged and disabled established by Title XVIII of the Social Security Act of 1965, as amended.  

Medicare Approved - the status of a Provider that is certified by the United States Department of Health and Human Services to receive payment under Medicare.  

Mental Illness - a Condition classified as a mental disorder in the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) or the most recent version, excluding Drug Abuse and Alcoholism and excluding Severe Mental Illness.  

N (return to top of page)

Negotiated Amount - the amount the Provider has agreed with CCP to accept as payment in full for Covered Services.  

The Negotiated Amount for Providers does not include adjustments and/or settlement due to prompt payment discounts, guaranteed discount corridor provisions, maximum charge increase limitation violations, performance withhold adjustments or any settlement, incentive, allowance or adjustment that does not accrue to a specific claim.  

The Negotiated Amount for Prescription Drugs does not include any share of formulary reimbursement savings (rebates), volume based credits or refunds or discount guarantees.  

In certain circumstances, CCP may have an agreement or arrangement with a vendor who purchases the services, supplies or products from the Provider instead of CCP contracting directly with the Provider itself. In these circumstances, the Negotiated Amount will be based upon the agreement or arrangement CCP has with the vendor and not upon the vendor's actual negotiated price with the Provider, subject to the further conditions and limitations set forth herein.  

Network Provider - a Hospital, Other Facility Provider, Physician or Other Professional Provider that is licensed and operated as required by law and which has an agreement with CCP about payment for Covered Services. (This includes professional staff members.)  

Non-Covered Charges - Billed Charges for services and supplies that are not Covered Services.  

Non-Network Coinsurance - a percentage of the Allowed Amount for Non-Network Providers for which you are responsible after you have met your Deductible or paid your Copayment, if applicable.  

Non-Network Coinsurance Limit - a specified dollar amount of Non-Network Coinsurance expense for which you are

responsible in each Benefit Period.  

Non-Network Deductible - an amount, usually stated in dollars, for which you are responsible each Benefit Period before CCP will start to provide benefits for services received from a Non-Network Provider.  

Non-Network Provider - the status of a Provider that does not meet the definition of a Network Provider.  

O (return to top of page)

Office Visit - Office visits include medical visits or Outpatient consultations in a Physician's office or patient's residence. A Physician's office can be defined as a medical/office building, Outpatient department of a Hospital, freestanding clinic facility or a Hospital based Outpatient clinic facility.  

Open Enrollment Periods - those periods of time stated in the Group Contract during which eligible employees of the Group may enroll.  

Other Facility Provider - the following Institutions that are licensed, when required, and where Covered Services are rendered that require compensation from their patients. Other than incidentally, these facilities are not used as offices or clinics for the private practice of a Physician or Other Professional Provider. CCP will only provide benefits for services or supplies for which a charge is made. Only the following Institutions that are defined below are considered to be Other Facility Providers:  

  • Alcoholism Treatment Facility - a facility that mainly provides detoxification and/or rehabilitation treatment for Alcoholism.
 
  • Ambulatory Surgical Facility - a facility with an organized staff of Physicians that has permanent facilities and equipment for the primary purpose of performing surgical procedures strictly on an Outpatient basis.Treatment must be provided by or under the supervision of a Physician and also includes nursing services.
 
  • Day/Night Psychiatric Facility - a facility that is primarily engaged in providing diagnostic services and therapeutic services for the Outpatient treatment of Mental Illness and Severe Mental Illness.These services are provided through either a day or night treatment program.
 
  • Dialysis Facility - a facility that mainly provides dialysis treatment, maintenance or training to patients on an Outpatient or home care basis.
 
  • Drug Abuse Treatment Facility - a facility that mainly provides detoxification and/or rehabilitation treatment for Drug Abuse.
 
  • Home Health Care Agency - a program or organization authorized by law to provide health care services in the home. A Home Health Care Agency is responsible for supervising the delivery of such services under a plan prescribed and approved, in writing, by the attending Physician.
 
  • Hospice Facility - a facility that provides supportive care for terminally ill patients as specified in the Hospice Services Section of this Certificate.
 
  • Psychiatric Facility - a facility that is primarily engaged in providing diagnostic services and therapeutic services for the treatment of Mental Illness on an Outpatient basis.
 
  • Psychiatric Hospital - a facility that is primarily engaged in providing diagnostic services and therapeutic services for the treatment of Mental Illness and Severe Mental Illness on an Inpatient basis. Such services must be provided by or under the supervision of an organized staff of Physicians. Continuous nursing services must be provided under the supervision of a registered nurse.
 
  • Skilled Nursing Facility - a facility that primarily provides 24-hour Inpatient Skilled Care and related services to patients requiring convalescent and rehabilitative care. Such care must be provided by either a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or physical therapist performing under the supervision of a Physician.
 

Other Professional Provider - only the following persons or entities which are licensed as required:  

  • advanced nurse practitioner (A.N.P.);
 
  • ambulance services;
 
  • dentist;
 
  • doctor of chiropractic medicine;
 
  • durable medical equipment or prosthetic appliance vendor;
 
  • laboratory (must be Medicare Approved);
 
  • licensed independent social workers (L.I.S.W.);
 
  • licensed practical nurse (L.P.N.);
 
  • licensed professional clinical counselor;
 
  • licensed professional counselor;
 
  • licensed vocational nurse (L.V.N.);
 
  • mechanotherapist (licensed or certified prior to November 3, 1975);
 
  • nurse-midwife;
 
  • occupational therapist;
 
  • optometrist;
 
 
  • podiatrist;
 
 
  • registered nurse (R.N.);
 
  • registered nurse anesthetist; and
 
 

Outpatient - the status of a Covered Person who receives services or supplies through a Hospital, Other Facility Provider, Physician or Other Professional Provider while not confined as an Inpatient.  

P (return to top of page)

Pharmacy - an Other Professional Provider that is a licensed establishment where Prescription Drugs are dispensed by a pharmacist licensed under applicable state law. 

Physician - a duly licensed doctor of medicine or osteopathy practicing within the scope of such a license.  

Prescription Drug (Federal Legend Drug) - any medication that by federal or state law may not be dispensed without a Prescription Order.  

Prescription Order - the request for medication by a Physician appropriately licensed to make such a request in the ordinary course of professional practice.  

Provider - means any Physician, dentist, Hospital, pharmacist, Other Professional Provider or Other Facility Provider properly licensed, where required, to furnish health care services.  

Psychologist - an Other Professional Provider who is a licensed Psychologist having either a doctorate in psychology or a minimum of five years of clinical experience. In states where there is no licensure law, the Psychologist must be certified by the appropriate professional body.  

R (return to top of page)

Residential Treatment Facility – 

  • A facility that provides care on a 24 hour a day, 7 days a week, live-in basis for the evaluation and treatment of residents with psychiatric or chemical dependency disorders.
 
  • The facility provides room and board as well as providing an individual treatment plan for the chemical, psychological and social needs of each of its residents.
 
  • The facility meets all regional, state and federal licensing requirements.
 
  • The residential care treatment program is supervised by a professional staff of qualified Physician(s), licensed nurses, counselors and social workers.
 
  • Residents do not require care in an acute or more intensive medical setting.
 

Rider - a document that amends or supplements your coverage.  

Routine Services - Services not considered Medically Necessary.  

S (return to top of page)

Service Area - the geographic area served by CCP and that has been approved by the appropriate regulatory agency. Contact CCP to determine the exact geographic area served. The Service Area may change from time to time.  

Severe Mental Illness - bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, paranoid and other psychotic disorder, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, depression in childhood and adolescence, as these terms are defined in the most recent edition of the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders published by the American psychiatric association.  

Skilled Care - care that requires the skill, knowledge or training of a Physician or a:  

  • registered nurse;
 
  • licensed practical nurse; or
 
  • physical therapist
 

performing under the supervision of a Physician. In the absence of such care, the Covered Person's health would be seriously impaired. Such care cannot be taught to or administered by a lay person.  

Skilled Nursing Facility - a Skilled Nursing Facility that has an agreement with CCP about payment for Covered Services or which is designated by CCP as approved.  

Specialist - a Physician or group of Physicians, in other than family practice, general practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, neonatology, obstetrics, gynecology or advanced practice nurses.  

Surgery -

  • the performance of generally accepted operative and other invasive procedures;
 
  • the correction of fractures and dislocations;
 
  • usual and related preoperative and postoperative care; or
 
  • other procedures as reasonably approved by CCP.
 

T (return to top of page)

Total Disability - a Covered Person's inability to perform all of the substantial and material duties of his or her regular employment or occupation during the first year of disability. After the first year of disability, Total Disability is defined as the complete inability of the employee to engage in any employment or occupation, for wage or profit, for which the employee is qualified by reason of education, training or experience. A dependent is considered totally disabled if they are unable to perform the normal activities of a person of like age and gender.  

Transplant Center - a facility approved by CCP that is an integral part of a Hospital and that:

  • has consistent, fair and practical criteria for selecting patients for transplants;
 
  • has a written agreement with an organization that is legally authorized to obtain donor organs; and
 
  • complies with all federal and state laws and regulations that apply to transplants covered under this Certificate.
 

U (return to top of page)

United States - all the states, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.  

Urgent Care - any Condition, which is not an Emergency Medical Condition, that requires immediate attention.  

Urgent Care Provider - an Other Professional Provider that performs services for health problems that require immediate medical attention which are not Emergency Medical Conditions.

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