What isDeductible?
The amount of money you must pay for medical care expenses before your insurance policy starts reimbursing you. This amount must be met each year.

What is Deductible Carryover Credit?
During the last three months of a calendar year, charges incurred for health services can be used to satisfy the deductible for the following calendar year. These credits may be applied whether or not the prior calendar year's deductible had been met.

What is Denial Of Claim ?
Refusal by an insurance company to honor a request by an individual (or his or her provider) to pay for health care services obtained from a health care professional.

What is Dental Insurance?
A type of policy designed to cover your dentist visits and procedures that are often not covered by managed care health plans. .

What is Discount Dental Plans?
Not really insurance, but rather "membership programs" that offer discounts on dental procedures and dentist visits. A cheaper alternative to Dental insurance.

What is Department of Health and Human Services?
A federal department whose responsibility is primarily dealing with social service functions such as administration and supervision of the Medicare program.

What is Dependent Coverage?
Insurance coverage on the head of a family which is extended to his or her dependents, including only the lawful spouse and unmarried children who are not yet employed on a full-time basis. "Children" may be step, foster, and adopted, as well as natural. Certain age restrictions on children usually apply. (LI,H)

What is Designated Mental Health Provider?
The organization hired by a health plan to provide mental health and substance abuse services.

What is Detoxification?
The process an individual goes through when withdrawing from alcohol. Usually is done under guidance of medical personnel.

What is Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs)?
A method of classifying inpatient hospital services. It is used as a method of determining financing to reimburse various providers for services performed.

What is Disability Benefits Law?
A state law requiring an employer to provide disability benefits to covered employees for nonoccupational injuries, in contrast to Workers Compensation, which pays for occupational injuries. These laws are currently in effect in New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, California, and Hawaii.

a lump sum or in installments.

What is Disability Income Insurance?
A form of health insurance that provides periodic payments to replace income, actually or presumptively lost, when the insured is unable to work as a result of sickness or injury.

sociological social insurance and demographic trends that may affect future application of policy forms and Health Insurance.

What is Dismemberment?
The loss of, or loss of use of, specified members of the body resulting from accidental bodily injury.

What is Dismemberment Benefit?
The benefits payable for various types of dismemberment. See also Accidental Death and Dismemberment and Multiple Indemnity.

What is Dread (or Specified) Disease Policy?
Coverage, usually with a high maximum limit, for all types of medical expenses arising out of diseases named in the contract. Common diseases covered are poliomyelitis, diphtheria, multiple sclerosis, spinal meningitis, and tetanus. Cancer is sometimes covered or may be added with some companies by a rider.

What is Drug Formulary?
A schedule of prescription drugs approved for use which will be covered by the plan and dispensed through participating pharmacies.

What is Drug Price Review (DPR)?
A procedure used to determine drug price maximums. It involves determining wholesale drug prices based on the American Druggist Blue Book.

What is Drug Utilization Review (DUR)?
A method for evaluating or reviewing the use of drugs in order to determine the appropriateness of the drug therapy.

What is Dual Choice?
The federal requirement that employers having 25 or more employees who are within the service area of a federally qualified HMO, who are paying at least minimum wage and offer a health plan to their employees, must offer HMO coverage as well as an indemnity plan.

What is Duplicate Coverage Inquiry (DCI)?
A request to determine whether or not other coverage exists. Used to apply the coordination of benefits provisions where two or more insurance companies are involved.

What is Duplication of Benefits?
A situation where identical or overlapping coverage exists between two or more insurance companies or service organizations.