Health Insurance Glossary
- W-2:
- The federal tax form used to report an employee's wages and taxes.
- Waiting Period:
- A period of time (often 12 months) beginning with your effective date during which your health insurance plan does not provide benefits for pre-existing conditions. This period may be reduced or waived based on any prior health care coverage you had before applying for your new health insurance plan.
- Waiver (Exclusion Endorsement):
- An agreement under which a member agrees to waive coverage for specific pre-existing conditions or for specific future conditions.
- Waiver of Premium:
- In some cases, a waiver of premium may be granted, allowing a member to maintain health insurance coverage in full force without payment. A waiver of premium is typically only granted in cases of permanent and total disability.
- Well-Baby/Well-Child Care:
- Regularly scheduled, preventive care services, including immunizations, provided to children up to an age specified by a health insurance company or mandated by a government agency. HMO and POS plans typically provide coverage for well-baby care, though coverage for these services may be limited under a PPO plan.
- PPACA requires health insurers to provide coverage for certain recommended preventive care services, screenings, and immunizations with no cost sharing requirement for plan or policy years beginning on or after September 23, 2010. The Department of Health and Human Services will issue regulations to define what specific benefits are required to be covered under the new law.
- Well-Woman Care:
- A term sometimes used by insurance companies and healthcare providers to refer to mammograms and pap smears and other preventive care services rendered to a woman.
- PPACA requires health insurers to provide coverage for certain recommended preventive care services and screenings with no cost sharing requirement. The Department of Health and Human Services will issue a ruling to define what specific benefits are required to be covered under the new law.
please note, however, that definitions of certain terms may vary across insurance companies.
eHealthInsurance is the nation's leading online source of health insurance. eHealthInsurance offers thousands of health plans underwritten by more than 180 of the nation's health insurance companies, including Aetna and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Compare plans side by side, get health insurance quotes, apply online and find affordable health insurance today.
