A B C D E F G H I J L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y

defensive medicine

The practice of health care providers ordering tests that may not be necessary to protect themselves from potential malpractice lawsuits. Said by some to be a major cause of high health care costs.

Deficit Reduction Act Of 2005

Made significant changes to the Medicaid program by allowing states to increase premiums and cost-sharing for families and to base benefits on private plans. The law also tightened long-term care asset transfers and capped the exemption for home equity at $500,000....

defined benefit

A health insurance model used by an employer or government program where specified health services covered under the plan are standardized and guaranteed. The cost of providing the standard benefits may fluctuate. One example of a defined benefit plan is traditional...

defined contribution

A health benefit model used by employers or government programs where health services covered may fluctuate based on choice of plan, but the employer or government contributes a set amount (percentage or dollar amount) towards the purchase of the selected health plan....