Consumer Driven Care Definitions...

Consumer Driven Care:
general term encompassing application of consumerism to health care, including the offering of consumer driven health plans. Also referred to as "Consumer Choice", "Consumer-Centric", "Consumer-Directed" and "Self-Directed" health care. 

Consumer Driven Health Plan:
involves a combination of an tax advantaged and funded spending or savings account with a high deductible insurance policy


Debit Card:
A health care debit card involves issuance of card to participants in a qualified health care spending or savings account that can be presented to providers to electronically transfer funds from the applicable account to the provider for payment of health care services rendered to the participant. In order for such accounts to properly qualify for tax advantaged treatment, the administration of the debit card payments must meet various IRS provisions.

Defined Contribution Health Plan:
A health plan funding arrangement whereby an employee is given a specified dollar amount each period from an employer or union to purchase health plan coverage or health care services from various available options


FSA:
flexible Spending Account. See Accounts Fact Sheet.


Gap:
the difference the Employee must pay out of pocket between the Employer (or Employee) funded Savings or Spending Account, and the Deductible amount.


High Deductible Health Plan:
A high deductible insurance policy meeting various specific IRS requirements to be paired with an HSA, including a minimum deductible of $1,000 for singles and $2,000 for families.


HRA:
Health Reimbursement Account. See Accounts Fact Sheet.


HSA:
Health Savings Account. See Accounts Fact Sheet.


MSA:
Medical Savings Account. See Accounts Fact Sheet.


Out-of-Pocket Expenses:
The dollar amounts the employee is still responsible to pay after the Insurance Plan has made payment for provider services rendered. Out-of-pocket expenses result from cost sharing requirements including deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments, as well as non-covered benefits, and costs in excess of plan maximums.


Roll-Over:
the unused balances at the end of a Plan year in HRAs, HSAs or MSAs, which remain in the Account on a tax advantaged basis and can be used in subsequent Plan years.