Glossary

Adjusted Gross Income

A person’s total income for the year, minus certain adjustments.

Advance Premium Tax Credits

A tax credit that acts as an instant discount to cover some or all the monthly costs for health insurance coverage. The tax credit amount will depend on income level, household size, and other factors.

Agents Brokers Enrollment Counselors

Trained professionals who can help assist consumers with their health insurance enrollment. There is no cost to use their services.

Allowed Amount

The maximum amount your health plan will pay for a covered healthcare service.

Balance Billing

When the cost for a healthcare service is greater than what is allowed by your plan, you may have to pay the difference. For example, if the cost for a healthcare service is $100 and the allowed amount is $80, your provider may bill you for the remaining $20.

Binder Payment

The first initial payment to your health insurance carrier completes your enrollment. If you fail to pay your first month’s premium, your policy will not take effect and you will not be enrolled in coverage.

Co-insurance

The percentage you pay for covered health services after your deductible is met. Your health insurer or plan pays the rest of the allowed amount. Depending on your plan, your portion of the co-insurance could range from 20-40%.

Co-payment

The fixed amount you pay for a medical visit or medication, e.g., $15 per visit, is usually paid at the time you receive the service. This is considered part of your out-of-pocket costs, separate from premiums and deductibles. This may vary by the type of health care services being provided.

Cost-Sharing Reductions

A discount that lowers the amount you pay out-of-pocket for things like deductibles, co-insurance, and co-payments. To qualify for a CSR your income must be within a certain range of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and you must be enrolled in a Silver Tier Plan.

Deductible

The amount you must pay for health care services during a coverage year before your health insurance carrier starts covering costs. For example, if your plan has a deductible of $1,000, you will have to pay for any covered healthcare services that are subject to the deductible until you reach the $1,000 amount. After that, your plan will start covering costs according to your plan benefits. The deductible may not apply to all services.

Emergency Medical Condition

An illness, injury, symptom (including severe pain), or condition severe enough that it requires immediate medical attention.

Emergency Medical Transportation

Ambulance services for an emergency medical condition. Your plan may include transportation by air, land, or sea.

Emergency Room Care Emergency Services

Services provided to treat an emergency medical condition. Services may be provided in a licensed hospital’s emergency room or any location providing emergency medical services.

Essential Health Benefits

Under the Affordable Care Act, health insurance plans purchased through a state-based marketplace must cover a set of 10 categories of services; some plans may cover more. All plans offered through Your Health Idaho cover at least the following: Doctor Visits, Hospitalization, Emergency Services, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services, Rehabilitative & Habilitative Services, Maternity & Newborn Care, Laboratory Test, Prescription Medicine, Preventive Wellness & Screenings, Pediatric Care

Excluded Services

Healthcare services that your plan does not cover or pay for.

Explanation of Benefits

A document that outlines the costs of a visit, what your health insurance policy covers, and how much you may owe. This is not a bill.

Failure to Reconcile

The failure of a tax-paying individual to submit IRS Form 8962 to report the amount of advance tax credit used versus the tax credit for which the individual qualifies based on the actual income for that year.

Federal Poverty Level

Guideline issued by the Department of Health and Human Services that determines eligibility for various income-based public programs.

Habilitation Services

Healthcare services that help you keep, learn, or improve skills and functioning for daily living. e.g., therapy for a child who isn’t walking or talking at the expected age or someone recovering from a stroke. May be inpatient or outpatient services.

Health Reimbursement Arrangement

Health Reimbursement Arrangements are employer-funded, account-based group health plans offered by employers that reimburse employees (and potentially their household) for their medical expenses. Employees are reimbursed tax-free for qualified medical expenses up to a fixed dollar amount per year.

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare

State agency that administers state and federal public assistance and health coverage programs.

In-Network

Physicians, hospitals, or other healthcare providers your health insurer has contracted with to provide your health services. You may pay less when receiving in-network healthcare.

Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement

A health benefit that allows employers to reimburse employees for some or all of their health insurance premiums.

Medicaid

Government program that provides health insurance for adults and children with limited income and resources.

Medically Necessary

Healthcare services that are provided to a patient to prevent, evaluate, or diagnose an illness, injury, condition, disease, or its symptoms. Services deemed medically necessary must meet recognized standards of medicine.

Medicare

Federal health insurance program for adults 65 or older, and certain younger people with disabilities.

Minimum Essential Coverage

Any insurance plan that meets the Affordable Care Act requirement for having health coverage is sometimes called “qualifying health coverage.” All plans sold through Your Health Idaho meet the requirements.

Network

Providers, healthcare facilities and suppliers who have contracted with your insurance company to provide services.

Non-Preferred Provider

A provider who does not have a contract with your insurance carrier. You may pay more to see a non-preferred provider.

Open Enrollment

The period from October 15 to December 15 each year when Idahoans can enroll in health insurance plan for the coming year. During Open Enrollment, Idahoans already enrolled with Your Health Idaho can make changes or renew their existing coverage.

Out-of-Network

Physicians, hospitals, or other healthcare providers your health insurer has not contracted with to provide your health services. Costs for out-of-network healthcare are typically higher.

Out-of-Pocket Costs

Medical Expenses that aren’t covered by your insurance plan. Out-of-pocket costs include deductibles, co-insurance, co-payments, and charges for services not covered.

Out-of-Pocket Maximum Limit

The most you’ll pay for covered services within a coverage year. After you reach this max limit your health plan will pay for 100% of the costs. Out-of-pocket limit does not include: Your monthly premium Out-of-network care and services Anything spent on services your plan doesn’t cover Costs above the allowed amount for a service that a provider may charge

Pre-Existing Condition

Any health problem like asthma, diabetes, or cancer you had before the date new health coverage starts. You cannot be denied coverage through Your Health Idaho due to a pre-existing condition.

Preauthorization

A health care service, treatment plan, prescription drug or use of medical equipment that must be approved as medically necessary by your health insurer. This may be required for certain services before you receive them. Preauthorization doesn’t guarantee your health insurance will cover the cost.

Preferred Provider

A physician or doctor who has a contract with your health insurance company to provide services at a discounted rate.

Premium

The amount you pay for your health insurance every month.

Prescription Drug Coverage

Health insurance or plan that helps pay for prescription drugs and medications.

Primary Care Physician Provider

Doctor or healthcare specialist who provides, coordinates, or helps a patient access a range of health care services.

Provider

A health professional or facility licensed to provide health care. Doctors, nurses, hospitals, and specialists are examples of health care providers.

Qualified Dental Plan

A dental insurance plan that helps pay for the cost of dentist visits for basic or preventive services like teeth cleaning, X-rays, and fillings. In the Marketplace, dental coverage is available either as part of a comprehensive medical plan or as a “stand-alone” dental plan.

Qualified Health Plan

A health insurance plan certified by Your Health Idaho provides the ten essential health benefits, follows established limits on cost-sharing (like deductibles, co-payments, and out-of-pocket maximum amounts), and meets other requirements.

Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement

Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement also known as the small business HRA, is an employer-funded health benefit that allows organizations with fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees to reimburse their employees tax-free for their individual health insurance premiums and other qualifying medical expenses.

Qualifying Life Event

A change in your life that can make you eligible for a Special Enrollment Period, allowing you to enroll in health coverage outside of Open Enrollment. Examples of qualifying life events are moving to or within Idaho to a new rating area, changes in your income, loss of employer-sponsored coverage, and changes in your family size e.g., marriage or having a baby).

Reconcile

The process used to confirm you received the correct Advance Premium Tax Credit amount during the year.To reconcile, you compare the amount of tax credit you used during the year; and the amount of tax credit you qualify for based on your final income. You'll use your Form 1095-A to complete IRS Form 8962 to do this.

Second Lowest Cost Silver Plan

The second-lowest priced health insurance plan in the Silver category that applied to you. The SLCSP is used to calculate your final premium tax credit. You do not have to be enrolled in this plan.

Special Enrollment Period

A time outside of the Open Enrollment period during which you and your family can enroll in health coverage. To qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you must experience a Qualifying Life Event.

Specialist

A physician or provider that focuses on a specific area of medicine or health care.

Tax Filing Requirement

The minimum amount (or threshold) of income requiring you to file a federal tax return.

Urgent Care

An illness, injury, symptom (including severe pain), or condition that is serious enough for a person to seek care right away but does not require emergency room care.