Legal settlement that assigns all or a part of an individual’s pension benefits to someone else (former spouse) for alimony, child support, or marital property rights.

Individual such as midwife, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, physician, and psychiatric clinical nurse specialist who may certify as to the inability of an individual to perform his or her regular or customary work due to sickness under the state temporary disability insurance program in Rhode Island.

In workers’ compensation cases, an injured worker entitled to receive vocational rehabilitation services because the injury prevents return to his or her usual occupation or the job performed at the time of the injury. Thus the injured worker is considered medically eligible because he or she is expected to return to employment after undergoing vocational rehabilitation services.

Qualified annuity plan that provides for pension benefits to a spouse of the retired plan participant after his or her death.

Physician who has been appointed and certified by the Industrial Medical Council (IMC) and conducts medicolegal evaluations of injured workers in workers’ compensation cases for insurance companies or workers’ compensation appeals board. QMEs render an unbiased opinion about the degree of disability of an injured worker. May be referred to as independent medical evaluator (IME) or agreed medical evaluator (AME) .

Medical expense that is primarily to alleviate or prevent a physical or mental defect or illness. This is defined by the Internal Revenue Service Code Section 213(d). Qualified medical expenses include medical, dental, and vision care deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance. Out-of-pocket costs not reimbursed by insurance (amounts above what insurance pays or amounts in excess of reasonable and customary charges). Expenses not covered by a health care policy (routine physical examinations or well-baby visits). Any other out-of-pocket medical expenses that are considered eligible as a tax deduction for federal income tax purposes.

Medicaid program for beneficiaries who need help in paying for Medicare services. The beneficiary must have Medicare Part A and limited income and resources. For those who qualify, the Medicaid program pays Medicare Part A premiums, Part B premiums, and Medicare deductibles and coinsurance amounts for Medicare services.

Retirement plan that conforms to the regulations contained in Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. It is established and maintained by an employer to provide for benefits to employees over a period of years after retirement. Qualified plans are approved by the Internal Revenue Service. The employer’s contributions are considered a deduction in determining the employer’s taxable income, not considered as employee earnings, and not taxable to the employee. Earnings of the pension plan are not subject to income tax.