Healthcare jargon is confusing. Here is some guidance to help you navigate. Contact me for more information.
SSDI Social Security Disability Insurance is a Social Security financial benefit for those who are unable to work for a year or more due to disability. Find out more.
SSI Supplemental Security Income is a Social Security cash benefit that provides for basic needs for those who have low to no income and assets and are unable to work due to disability. Find out more.
SDI State Disability Insurance is a program of California Employment Development Department that pays 60-70 percent of injured or ill worker’s salaries for 52 weeks if they are unable to work due to disability. Find out more.
PFL Paid Family Leave is a program of California Employment Development Department that provides partial pay for up to six weeks when workers take time off from their jobs to care for an ill loved one. Find out more.
IHO In Home Operations is a California Department of Health Care Services program that administers two Medi-Cal waiver programs that provide care for individuals who live at home, but require the kind of 24/7 care that is normally provided in skilled nursing facilities. Find out more.
IHSS In Home Supportive Services is a county-based program that pays for personal care and domestic services for a financially needy disabled person. Find out more.
MEDI-CAL vs. MEDICARE Medi-Cal (called Medicaid in other states) is a California program that offers low- or no-cost health coverage for children and adults with limited income and resources. Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people who are 65 and also younger individuals with certain disabilities.Find out more about Medicare. Find out more about Medi-Cal.
HMO Health Maintenance Organization is health insurance with no deductibles, and requires its members to seek medical care within its network of approved providers; specialists are seen usually with a referral from their primary care physician. Find out more.
PPO Preferred Provider Organization is health insurance with deductibles and co-insurance, and allows its members a broader network of in-network and out-of-network medical providers; often no referrals from primary care doctors are needed to see specialists. Find out more.
Deductible the amount of money you must pay before your health insurance claims coverage begins. Find out more.
Co-Insurance the percentage of cost you pay for health care services after you’ve met your deductible. Find out more.
Out-of-Pocket Max the most you will pay during a health insurance policy period for the medical care expenses that are not covered by insurance, including deductibles and coinsurance. Find out more.
ABI Acquired Brain Injury is brain damage that is caused by events or conditions that occur after birth (as opposed to a genetic or congenital disorder). This is an umbrella term that includes brain injuries resulting from a wide range of post-birth events such as traumatic brain injuries, strokes and brain tumors, for example. Find out more.
CVA Cerebrovascular Accident is a medical term for a stroke, which happens when blood flow to part of the brain is stopped due to a blockage (ischemic stroke) or a ruptured blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). Find out more.
TBI Traumatic Brain Injury is a bump, blow, or jolt to the head/body or an object penetrates brain tissue that causes injury to the brain. Concussions are considered “mild” TBIs. Find out more.
ASIA Scale American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale is a commonly used scale to rate the severity of spinal cord injuries. Find out more.
Balance Billing when healthcare providers bill patients for the difference between their charges and what health insurance reimburses them for medical care. In California, this is an illegal practice when the care is provided in an emergency situation or when it is provided in an in-network facility. This is also referred to as “surprise billing.” Find out more.