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Health Insurance Glossary
Acute condition
A disease, illness or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment aimed at returning you to full health or state of health you were in immediately before suffering the disease, illness or injury, or which leads to recovery.
Blood glucose
The levels of glucose in the blood, represented in milligrams of glucose per decilitre of blood.
Cancer
Any malignant growth or tumour caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division which may spread locally or to distant parts of the body.
Chemotherapy
The treatment of malignant diseases with chemical agents.
Chronic condition
A disease, illness or injury, which has at least one of the following characteristics:
- continues indefinitely and has no known cure
- comes back or is likely to come back
- is permanent
- means the Member needs to be rehabilitated or specially trained to cope with it needs long-term monitoring, consultations, check-ups, examinations, or tests
Children
The term “children” incorporates biological and adopted children as well as children under guardianship. The main criterion is that they are financially dependent on the principal Member taking out the Policy. Children can remain on the Policy past the age of 21 years, being charged as an adult and will only be removed on the notification from the Member or the Policyholder.
Complementary therapy
Complementary disciplines are those which usually, if not invariably, complement conventional medical treatment, whilst alternative disciplines are those which purport to offer diagnostic and therapeutic alternatives to conventional medicine.
Conventional medicine
Widely accepted medical methods, usually Western in origin and based on the best available scientific evidence (also known as allopathic medicine).
CT scan (Computerised Tomography)
A diagnostic technique that provides cross-sectional images of body structures using a thin X-ray beam which rotates around the patient and a computer to construct an image.
Day case treatment
Treatment which, for medical reasons, means the Member has to be admitted to hospital or a day case unit because they need a period of clinically supervised recovery but does not have to stay overnight.
Diabetes
A complex disorder of fat and glucose metabolism where, if untreated, the blood sugar level is higher than normal.
Diagnosis
The process of identifying or determining the nature and cause of a disease or injury through the evaluation of a patient's history, examination and review of laboratory data.
Diagnostic tests
Investigations, such as x-rays or blood tests, to find or to help find the cause of someone’s symptoms.
Ectopic pregnancy
An abnormal pregnancy in which the implantation and subsequent development of a fertilised egg occurs outside the uterus, e.g. in a Fallopian tube.
Exclusions
Conditions and treatments not covered by your policy.
Frail care
Frail care is assistance given to individuals who are completely or partially incapable of carrying out daily activities such as feeding, dressing and attention to personal hygiene.
General NHS ward
This is a ward within an NHS hospital where there is generally no charge for the bed.
Hydatidiform mole
A tumour in the placenta that occurs in early pregnancy.
Inpatient treatment
Treatment which, for medical reasons, means the Member has to stay in hospital overnight or longer.
Maxillofacial surgeon
A surgeon who performs surgery related to the face and jaw.
MRI scan (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
A diagnostic technique that provides cross-sectional images of body structures using magnets and radio frequency waves and a computer to construct the image.
Outpatient treatment
Treatment given at a hospital, consulting room or outpatient clinic where the Member is not admitted for day case or inpatient treatment.
PET scan (Positron Emission Tomography)
A diagnostic technique that uses an injected radioactive substance to examine the metabolic activity of various body structures and a computer to construct the image.
PPU
Private patients unit. These can be separate wings or wards within an NHS hospital.
Prostate
A firm, partly muscular, chestnut-sized gland in males at the neck of the urethra.
Qualified nurse
A nurse who is on the register of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and holds a valid NMC personal identification number.
Radiology tests
The diagnosis of disease and injury using X-rays.
Radiotherapy
The treatment of malignant disease by using X-rays or gamma rays.
Refractive eye surgery
A surgical procedure in which incisions are made to change the shape of the cornea, to correct long- or short-sightedness.
Related medical condition
Any symptom, disease, illness or injury, which reasonable medical opinion considers to be associated with another symptom, disease, illness or injury.
Therapists
These include physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, acupuncturists, homeopaths, podiatrists and other practitioners as may be agreed by PruHealth.
Treatment
Surgical or medical service (including diagnostic tests), needed to diagnose, relieve or cure a disease, illness or injury.
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