Closed Access, Health

A situation where covered insureds or the designated service provider must select one primary care physician. That physician is the only one allowed to refer the patient to other health care providers within the plan. Also called Closed Panel or Gatekeeper Model.

Closed adoption

To take into one’s own family by legal process and raise as one’s own child, but the identifying information about the adoptive and birth families is not shared. The adoptive and birth families do not establish or maintain contact.

Closed contract

Insurance agreement in which rates and policy provisions cannot be changed between the policy owner and the insurer. Commercial insurance companies write closed contracts. Fraternal insurance companies are not permitted to write this type of insurance.

Closed formulary

List of drugs covered by a benefit plan in which the drugs on it are the only ones covered. Sometimes nonformulary drugs can be covered if authorization is obtained and if there is a good medical reason. See also open formulary and restricted formulary.