What Do You Mean It's Not Covered: Different Kinds of "Health Insurance"

The term "basic coverage" is generally used in the medical insurance field to refer to benefits characterized by low or moderate levels of coverage. Small deductibles may apply to some coverages, while other coverages may be provided on a "first dollar" basis -- with no deductible. There are many variations in basic medical expense policy forms. Some insurance companies issue separate policies to cover the charges a hospital makes on its own behalf for room and board and medical supplies (hospital expense insurance), charges made by surgeons and anesthesiologists for surgical procedures (surgical expense insurance), and charges for doctor visits and miscellaneous services (medical expense insurance). Some insurance companies issue combination policies which include all of these types of benefits in the same contract. In addition to the more typical basic coverages, many insurance companies offer a variety of additional coverages, which may be added to a policy. Optional coverages may include benefits for normal pregnancy and childbirth, long-term care, intensive care, special nursing services, and other treatments and services which are not covered by the basic policy forms. Whatever the policy form, the persons insured, types of benefits provided, benefit limits, and deductibles (if any) are usually shown in a schedule at the beginning of the policy. This information may be called the "declarations", policy "specifications", or simply the "policy schedule".