Managed Care Glossary of Terms

Spend Down
A term used in Medicaid for persons whose income and assets are above the threshold for the state's designated medically needy criteria, but are below this threshold when medical expenses are factored in. The amount of expenditures for health care services, relative to income, that qualifies an individual for Medicaid in States that cover categorically eligible, medically indigent individuals. Eligibility is determined on a case-by-case basis.

Spider Graphs/Charts
A technique or tool developed by Ernst & Young, to combine analyses of a market's level of managed care evolution with an internal readiness review.

Staff Model HMO
A model in which the HMO hires its own physicians. All premiums and other revenues accrue to the HMO, which, in turn, compensates physicians. Very much like the group model, except the doctors are employees of the HMO. Generally, all ambulatory health services are provided under one roof in the staff model.

(SCR) Standard Class Rate
Base revenue requirement per member multiplied by demographic information to determine monthly premium rates.

Standing Referral
A referral to a specialist provider that covers routine visits to that provider. It is a common practice to permit the gatekeeper to make referrals for only a limited number of visits (often 3 or fewer). In cases where the medical condition requires regular visits to a specialist, this type of referral eliminates the need to return to the gatekeeper each time the initial referral expires.

(SCHIP) State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
Although Medicaid has made great strides in enrolling low-income children, significant numbers of children remain uninsured. From 1988 to 1998, the proportion of children insured through Medicaid increased from 15.6% to 19.8%. At the same time, however, the percentage of children without health insurance increased from 13.1% to 15.4%. The increase in uninsured children is mostly the result of fewer children being covered by employer-sponsored health insurance. The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 created a new children's health insurance program called the State Children's Health Insurance Program. This program gave each state permission to offer health insurance for children, up to age 19, who are not already insured. SCHIP is a state administered program and each state sets its own guidelines regarding eligibility and services.

Stop Loss Insurance
Insurance purchased by an insurance company or health plan from another insurance company to protect itself against losses. Reinsurance purchased to protect against the single overly large claim or the excessively high aggregated claim during a set period. Also see Reinsurance and Specific Stop Loss.

Sub-Capitation
An arrangement that exists when an organization being paid under a capitated system contracts with other providers on a capitated basis, sharing a portion of the original capitated premium. Can be done under Carve Out, with the providers being paid on a PMPM basis.

Subrogation
Procedure where insurance company recovers from a third party when the action resulting in medical expense (e.g. auto accident) was the fault of another person. The recovery of the cost of services and benefits provided to the insured of one health plan when other parties are liable.

Subscriber
Person responsible for payment of premiums, or person whose employment is the basis for membership in a health plan.

Subscriber Contract
A written agreement that describes the individual's health care policy. Also called subscribe certificate or member certificate.

(SPD) Summary Plan Description
In self-funded plans, a written explanation of the eligibility for and benefits available to employees required by ERISA

Supplemental Insurance
Any private health insurance plan held by a Medicare beneficiary or commercial beneficiary, including Medigap policies and post-retirement health benefits. Supplemental usually pays the deductible or co-pay and sometimes will pay the entire bill when the primary carrier's benefits are exhausted.

(SMI) Supplemental Medical Insurance
Part B of the Medicare program. Part B normally covers the outpatient services, as opposed to Part A which covers inpatient. This voluntary program requires payment of a monthly premium, which covers 25 percent of pro-ram costs. Beneficiaries are responsible for a deductible and coinsurance payments for most covered services. See also Part B.

(SSI) Supplemental Security Income
A federal cash assistance program for low-income aged, blind and disabled individuals established by Title XVI of the Social Security Act. States may use SSI income limits to establish Medicaid eligibility.

Supplemental Services
Optional services a health plan covers or provides.

Surplus Lines Tax
A tax imposed by state law when coverage is placed with an insurer not licensed or admitted to transact business in the state where the risk is located. Unlike premium tax for admitted insurers, the surplus lines tax is not included in the premium and must be collected from the policy holder and remitted to the state.