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Glossary

This glossary explains terms in the Medicare program, but it is not a legal document. The official Medicare program provisions are found in the relevant laws, regulations, and rulings.

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Term	Definition
MEDICAID	A joint Federal and State program that helps with medical costs for some people with low incomes and limited resources. Medicaid programs vary from state to state, but most health care costs are covered if you qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.
MEDICAL UNDERWRITING	The process that an insurance company uses to decide, based on your medical history, whether or not to take your application for insurance, whether or not to add a waiting period for pre-existing conditions (if your state law allows it), and how much to charge you for that insurance.
MEDICALLY NECESSARY	Services or supplies that are needed for the diagnosis or treatment of your medical condition, meet the standards of good medical practice in the local area, and aren’t mainly for the convenience of you or your doctor.
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLAN	A plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide you with all your Medicare Part A and Part B benefits. Medicare Advantage Plans are HMOs, PPOs, or Private Fee-for-Service Plans. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage Plan, Medicare services are covered through the plans, and are not paid for under Original Medicare.
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PRESCRIPTION DRUG (MA-PD) PLAN	A Medicare Advantage plan that offers Medicare Prescription Drug coverage and Part A and Part B benefits in one plan.
MEDICARE COORDINATED CARE PLAN	A Medicare Advantage HMO or PPO Plan.
MEDICARE COST PLANS	Medicare cost plans are a type of HMO that contracts as a Medicare Health Plan. As with other HMOs, the plan only pays for services outside its service area when they are emergency or urgently needed services. However, when you are enrolled in a Medicare Cost Plan, if you get routine services outside of the plan's network without a referral, your Medicare-covered services will be paid for under the Original Medicare Plan, and you will be responsible for the Original Medicare deductibles and coinsurance.
MEDICARE COVERAGE	Made up of two parts: Hospital Insurance (Part A) and Medical Insurance (Part B). (See Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance); Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance).)
MEDICARE HEALTH PLAN	A plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide you with your Medicare Part A and/or Part B benefits.Medicare Health Plans include Medicare Advantage plans (including HMO, PPO, or Private Fee-for-Service Plans); Medicare Cost Plans; PACE plans; and special needs plans.
MEDICARE MANAGED CARE PLAN	A type of Medicare Advantage Plan that is available in some areas of the country. In most managed care plans, you can only go to doctors, specialists, or hospitals on the plan?s list. Plans must cover all Medicare Part A and Part B health care. Some managed care plans cover extras, like prescription drugs. Your costs may be lower than in the Original Medicare Plan.
MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE	Optional coverage available to all people with Medicare through insurance companies and other private companies.
MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PLAN	A stand-alone drug plan, offered by insurers and other private companies to beneficiaries that receive their Medicare Part A and/or B benefits through the Original Medicare Plan; Medicare Private Fee-for-Service Plans that don’t offer prescription drug coverage; and Medicare Cost Plans offering Medicare prescription drug coverage.
MEDICARE SELECT	A type of Medigap policy that may require you to use hospitals and, in some cases, doctors within its network to be eligible for full benefits.
MEDICARE SUMMARY NOTICE (MSN)	A notice you get after the doctor or provider files a claim for Part A and Part B services in the Original Medicare Plan. It explains what the provider billed for, the Medicare-approved amount, how much Medicare paid, and what you must pay.
MEDICARE-APPROVED AMOUNT	In the Original Medicare Plan, this is the amount a doctor or supplier can be paid, including what Medicare pays and any deductible, coinsurance, or copayment that you pay. It may be less than the actual amount charged by a doctor or supplier.
MEDIGAP OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD	A one-time-only six month period when you can buy any Medigap policy you want that is sold in your state. It starts in the first month that you are covered under Medicare Part B and you are age 65 or older. During this period, you can’t be denied coverage or charged more due to past or present health problems.
MEDIGAP POLICY	Medicare supplement insurance sold by private insurance companies to fill "gaps" in Original Medicare Plan coverage. Except in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, there are 12 standardized plans labeled Plan A through Plan L. Medigap policies only work with the Original Medicare Plan.

This glossary explains terms in the Medicare program, but it is not a legal document. The official Medicare program provisions are found in the relevant laws, regulations,and rulings.

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