Co-insurance: The part of the cost of health care services that the patient must pay. This is generally identified as a percentage of the cost shared with the insurer (such as 20% paid by the patient and 80% paid by the insured).

Co-payment: The fixed fee for utilizing network services such as doctor or emergency room visits and filing a prescription.

Disease Management: A system of coordinated healthcare interventions and communications for people with conditions in which self-care efforts are significant. An example of disease management includes self-management education such as primary prevention, behavior modification programs and self monitoring programs.

Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO): A health coverage plan that covers members only for visits to an approved network of doctors.

Fee-for-Service: The traditional health insurance system under which doctors are paid for each specific service they give the patient (e.g., office visit fee, surgical fee, etc.).

Health Maintenance Organization: A health coverage plan that offers its members a network of doctors and other health care providers. HMOs offer low co-payments and quality comprehensive health care services that emphasize preventative services such as childhood immunizations and cancer screenings.

Point-of-Service Plan (POS): A health insurance plan that combines features of both network an fee-for-service plans. In a point-of-service plan, a patient can visit network or non-network doctors and other health care providers. A larger co-payment may be required to use non-network doctors.

Preventative Medicine: Tests and screenings conducted to prevent, avoid or predict future illnesses. Some preventative tests include mammograms for breast cancer screenings, blood work to screen for diabetes or cholesterol, prostate cancer screenings, pap smears, etc.

Primary Care: Basic health care. In an HMO, members choose a primary care provider, such as a family practitioner, internist or pediatrician, who then watches over the patient's total care. Primary care doctors serve as personal medical care coordinators, delivering basic care to their patients and referring them to specialists or other medical professionals when appropriate.

Provider: Professional people and organizations who provide health care services, such as physicians, nurse practitioners, hospitals and surgical centers.

Utilization Review: The review of services delivered by a doctor or other health care provider to determine whether those services are medically necessary.