Infusion Access Foundation
Healthcare Literacy

The comprehensive health care reform law enacted in March 2010 (sometimes known as ACA, PPACA, or “Obamacare”).

Health services provided to members who are not confirmed to a health care institution.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications and access to state and local government’ programs and services.

The process of asking your insurance to reconsider a denial. Your insurance company may deny your authorization for several reasons. When you receive the denial, it will include instructions on how to appeal the determination. Your care team should be able to help you file your appeal.

Your immune system attacks your body’s cells. Currently, scientists have found over 100 autoimmune disorders.

A year of benefits coverage under an individual health insurance plan. The benefit year for plans bought inside or outside of the Marketplace begins January 1st and ends December 31st of the same year. Any changes to benefits or rates to a health insurance plan are made at the beginning of the calendar year.

The health care items or services covered under a health insurance plan. Covered benefits and excluded services are defined in the health insurance plan’s coverage documents. In Medicaid or CHIP, covered benefits and excluded services are defined in state program rules.

Medicine that is composed of a whole living cell, part of a cell (such as an enzyme—a substance that acts as a catalyst for a biochemical reaction), or the product of a cell (such as an antibody—a protein created by the immune system in response to harmful substances, also known as antigens). They must be grown or produced by living cells, either human, animal or plant cells. Biologics are typically larger and more complex than traditional chemical medications.

The organization of your treatment across several health care providers. Medical homes and Accountable Care Organizations are two common ways to coordinate care.

The people who provide your healthcare services. People who are part of your care team could include the nurse(s) or other staff who provide your treatment, the doctor(s) who prescribes your treatment, the staff at the front desk of your infusion clinic, and pharmacists among others.

A federal program that provides medical coverage to those under age 19 whose parents cannot afford private health insurance but make too much for Medicaid.

An illness or disease that lasts for a long period of time and typically cannot be cured. Many are able to be treated allowing the person to return to everyday activities. Some are progressive meaning they get worse with time.

A federal law that may allow you to temporarily keep health coverage after your employment ends, you lose coverage as a dependent of the covered employee, or another qualifying event. If you elect COBRA coverage, you pay 100% of the premiums, including the share the employer used to pay, plus a small administrative fee.

A certain percent you must pay each benefit period after you have paid your deductible

A health insurance program that prevents patients from using a copay card or coupon to cover their out-of-pocket costs. When a patient uses a copay coupon or a card, the health plan receives the payment from the card or coupon, but the amount of support on the coupon or card does not count toward the patient’s out-of-pocket costs.

The amount you pay to a healthcare provider at the time you receive services. Not all plans have a copay.

Crohn's disease is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes inflammation of your digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. ¹

The amount you pay for your healthcare services before your health insurer pays. Deductibles are based on your benefit period (typically a year at a time).

Your body does not have enough of a certain vitamin or mineral.

Your insurance company refuses to pay for a service you requested.

A measure of income issued every year by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). FPL is used to determine your eligibility for certain programs and benefits, including savings on Marketplace health insurance, and Medicaid and CHIP coverage.

An arrangement you set up through your employer to pay for many of your out-of-pocket medical expenses with tax-free dollars. You decide how much of your pre-tax wages you want taken out of your paycheck and put into an FSA. If you don’t spend by the end of the year there are no carry-over FSA funds.

A list of covered prescription drugs by a drug plan or a health insurer.

A prescription drug that has the same active ingredient formula as a brand-name drug. Generic drugs usually cost less than brand name drugs. These drugs are as effective and safe as brand-name as stated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

United States legislation that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information in medical settings. Signed into law by President Bill Clinton in August 1996.

Offers healthcare services only with specific HMO providers. Under an HMO plan, you might have to choose a primary care doctor. The doctor will be your primary physician and will refer you to another HMO specialist when needed. Services from providers outside of the HMO plan are hardly ever covered.

An account that lets you save for future medical costs. Money put in the account is not subject to federal income tax when deposited.
Funds can build up and be used year to year. They are not required to be spent in a single year. Must be paired with certain high deductible health insurance plans (HDHP).

Similar to the Pre-Existing Insurance Plan under the Affordable Care Act, for patients that have been locked out of the individual insurance market because of pre-existing conditions. High-risk pool plans offer health insurance coverage that is subsidized by a state government. Typically, the premium for high-risk pools are twice as much as if you were healthy. Many of these pools closed once the ACA was active. You can search to see if your state has a high risk pool.

Drinking enough water for your body to work properly. When you have not had enough water, you may become dehydrated. You can also drink too much water and become overhydrated.

Your body’s natural defense against bacteria, viruses, and other foreign invaders. The immune system is made up of many different types of cells and organs to keep you healthy. Some examples of your immune system are your skin, spleen, t- and b-cells. Many treatments for autoimmune disorders modify some or all of the immune system, including your t- and/or b-calls.

The percent you pay of the allowed amount or covered health care service to providers who contract with your health insurance or plan. In-network coinsurance usually costs you less than out-of-network coinsurance.

A sickness usually caused by a bacteria or virus.

The delivery of medication directly into the veins (intravenously), using gravity or a pump to regulate the rate of administration. Doctors often recommend infusion therapy when a patient’s condition cannot be treated by traditional oral medications.

Medicine is delivered directly into the skin, muscle, or vein using a needle.

Services received when admitted to a hospital and a room and board charge is made.

Services that include medical and non-medical care provided to people who are unable to perform basic activities of daily living such as dressing or bathing. Long-term supports and services can be provided at home, in the community, in assisted living or in nursing homes. Medicare and most health insurance plans don’t pay for long-term care.

Lupus is a disease that occurs when your body's immune system attacks your own tissues and organs (autoimmune disease). Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs. ²

A federally funded health care program that is run at the state level to assist lower income families or individuals paying for long-term medical and custodial care costs.

A process used by insurance companies to try to figure out your health status when you’re applying for health insurance coverage to determine whether to offer coverage, at what price, and with what exclusions or limits.

A federal program for people age 65 or older that pays for certain healthcare expenses.

Inpatient or hospital coverage provided by the federal program, Medicare, that covers hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care and some home health care.

Medical insurance provided by the federal program, Medicare, that covers certain healthcare provider services, physician-administered medications, hospital outpatient care, medical supplies and preventative services.

A plan that offers hospital and medical insurance through a private Medicare contractor. These plans can also offer a separate drug plan, but you cannot purchase a Medigap plan with Medicare Part C.

A program that helps pay for prescription drugs for people with Medicare who join a plan that includes Medicare prescription drug coverage. There are two ways to get Medicare prescription drug coverage: through a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage.

Medicare Supplement Insurance that is offered by private, Medigap-contracting insurance companies. Medigap plans can help cover the remaining costs of healthcare services and supplies, such as copayments and coinsurance.

Your body converts food into energy using your metabolism. Chemicals in your digestive system break down the food into parts that your body can use. A metabolic disorder is when you have too little or too much of a chemical that your body needs to function. You can have too little of an important chemical, like insulin for diabetes, or too much of something like creatinine in kidney disease.

The immune system attacks the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers and causes communication problems between your brain and the rest of your body. ³

The facilities, providers and suppliers your health insurer or plan has contracted with to provide health care services.

A healthcare provider who is part of a health plan’s network.

A strategy that health insurers use to control their costs and maximize profits by forcing stable patients to switch from their current, effective medications to drugs that may not be as effective, for reasons unrelated to health.

The yearly period when people can enroll in a health insurance plan. Open Enrollment generally runs from November 1st to December 15th, but it is important to check each year.

Traditional Medicare that includes Medicare Part A and Part B.

Cost you must pay. Out-of-pocket costs vary by plan and each plan has a maximum out of pocket (MOOP) cost.

Services that do not need an overnight stay in a hospital. Often these services are provided in a doctor’s office, hospital or clinic.

Research that compares different medical treatments and interventions to provide evidence on which strategies are most effective in different populations and situations.

Third-party entities that contract the management of pharmacy benefits for government programs and employer-sponsored health plans. PBMs develop and maintain drug formularies, contract with pharmacies, negotiate rebates and contracts with manufacturers.

A type of plan in which you pay less if you use doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers that belong to the plan’s network. POS plans also require you to get a referral from your primary care doctor in order to see a specialist.

A type of insurance plan that offers more extensive coverage for the services of healthcare providers who are part of the plan’s network, but still offers coverage for providers who are not part of the plan’s network. PPO plans generally offer more flexibility than HMO plans, but premiums tend to be higher.

Payments you make to your insurance provider to keep your coverage. These payments have certain due dates.

Routine health care that includes screenings, check-ups, and patient counseling to prevent illnesses, diseases, or other health problems.

A physician, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist or physician assistant, as allowed under state law, who provides, coordinates or helps a patient access a range of health care services.

A pre-approval requirement by health insurers for certain health care services. The insurer makes the decision of whether the services prescribed are medically necessary before the patient receives them.

Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes red, itchy scaly patches, most commonly on the knees, elbows, trunk and scalp. Psoriasis is a common, long-term (chronic) disease with no cure. It tends to go through cycles, flaring for a few weeks or months, then subsiding for a while or going into remission. ⁴

A written order from your primary care doctor for you to see a specialist or get certain medical services. In many Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), you need to get a referral before you can get medical care from anyone except your primary care doctor. Without a referral from your primary care doctor, the plan may not pay for the services.

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease, which means that your immune system attacks healthy cells in your body by mistake, causing inflammation (painful swelling) in the affected parts of the body.

RA mainly attacks the joints, usually many joints at once. RA commonly affects joints in the hands, wrists, and knees. In a joint with RA, the lining of the joint becomes inflamed, causing damage to joint tissue. This tissue damage can cause long-lasting or chronic pain, unsteadiness (lack of balance), and deformity (misshapenness).

RA can also affect other tissues throughout the body and cause problems in organs such as the lungs, heart, and eyes. ⁵

A health insurance exchange that helps small business owners provide medical and dental insurance to their employees. Some smaller employers qualify for tax credits if they buy health insurance through the SHOP Marketplace.

A time outside of the yearly Open Enrollment Period when you can sign up for health insurance. You qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you’ve had certain life events, including loss of coverage, moving, getting married, having a baby, or adopting a child.

A state program that gets funding from the federal government to provide free local health coverage counseling to people with Medicare.

Also known as “fail-first” is a cost-utilization tool used by health insurance plans. This strategy requires patients to try and “fail” one or more of the insurer’s “preferred” treatment options before pursuing another treatment.

Health coverage available at reduced or no cost for people with incomes below certain levels.

Ulcerative colitis (UL-sur-uh-tiv koe-LIE-tis) is an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and ulcers (sores) in your digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis affects the innermost lining of your large intestine (colon) and rectum. Symptoms usually develop over time, rather than suddenly. ⁶

A blood vessel that returns blood back to your heart.