Calendar Year

January 1 through December 31 of the same year. Many deductible amount provisions are on a calendar year basis under major medical plans.

Carrier

Insurance company that actually underwrites and issues the insurance policy. The term refers to the fact that the company carries (or assumes) certain risks for the policyholder.

Carrier, Underwriter, Insurer

The company that insures you.

Carrier Replacement

This refers to a situation where one carrier replaces one or more carriers.

Case Manager

A person, usually an experienced professional, who coordinates the services necessary.

Certificate Booklet

The plan agreement. A printed description of the benefits and coverage provisions intended to explain the contractual arrangement between the carrier and the insured group or individual. May also be referred to as a policy booklet

Certificate of Coverage

A statement of coverage, also known as a certificate of insurance, that an individual receives when insured under a group contract. The certificate serves as proof of insurance, and outlines benefits and provisions.

Cheap Online Travel Insurance

Travel (better known as Trip) Insurance purchased online for a very affordable price.

Cheap Online Travel Insurance Quote

Travel (better known as Trip) Insurance purchased online for a very affordable price.

Cheap Annual Travel Insurance

If you are a frequent traveler or a business traveler, this may be the plan for you. You pay an annual fee and are covered for twelve months, regardless of the number of trips you take.

Chemical Equivalents

Drugs which contain identical amounts of the same ingredients.

Chronic Disease / Chronic Illness

Disease or illness persisting for an extended period of time and which cannot not easily be cured within reasonable time.

Claim

Request by the insured (or his/her provider) to an insurance company to pay for services obtained from a health care provider. The claim is usually submitted in a pre-determined format or a claim form.

Claim Form

A document that an insured person must complete as a part of the filing process. The form will usually ask specific questions relating to the medical treatment, previous history, etc.

Co-Insurance

After paying the deductible, percentage or amount of covered expenses that the insured pays. For example, an insurance policy brochure may mention that the policy will pay 80% of the first $5,000 and 100% thereafter of the usual and customary charges

Coinsurance Clause

A provision stating that the insured and the insurer will share all losses covered by the policy in a proportion agreed upon in advance, i.e., 70-30 would mean that the insurer would pay 70% and the insured would pay 30% of all losses.

Conditionally Renewable

A contract that provides that the insured may renew it to a stated date or an advanced age, subject to the right of the insurer to decline renewal only under conditions stated in the contract.

Contract Year

This period runs from the effective date to the expiration date of the contract.

Coordination of Benefits (COB)

A group policy provision which helps determine the primary carrier in situations where an insured is covered by more than one policy. This provision prevents an insured from receiving claims overpayments.

Co-Pay

This is an arrangement where the covered person pays a specified amount for various services and the health care provider pays the remainder. The covered person usually must pay his or her share when the service is rendered. Similar to coinsurance, except that coinsurance is usually a percentage of certain charges where the co-payment is a dollar amount.

Cost Sharing

A situation where covered persons pay a portion of the health costs such as deductibles, coinsurance, or co-payment amounts.

Covered Expenses

Health care expenses incurred by an insured or covered person that qualify for reimbursement under the terms of a policy contract.

Covered Person

A person who pays premiums into the contract for the benefits provided and who also meets eligibility requirements.

Coverage

The extent to which the insurance company will provide compensation for expenses in case of injury, diseases or illnesses. Coverage may be limited in terms of geographic area, maximum total amounts, maximum amounts per incident/injury/disease/illness, etc.

Coverage Period

Start and end date of coverage. Effective date for insurance coverage can be the date of departure from home country, or it can be any other later date specified by insured. It is wise to have the insurance effective date same as the date when you depart from home country for the destination and end date same as the date you arrive back in the home country so that you will be covered for any medical emergencies(for covered expenses) even during your journey.

Critical Illness

Major medical condition/health problem, e.g. cancer, blindness; coronary artery by-pass surgery, heart attack, kidney failure, stroke, multiple sclerosis, etc.