Physical examination performed by a physician to determine if an insurance applicant has any physical, moral, occupational, or financial characteristics of risk. These qualities are evaluated by the insurance company to determine whether to insure the entity. An ME may also be performed when an insured claims to have disability and to determine whether he or she is actually disabled.

1. Physician approved by the insurance company to perform a medical examination on an individual who is applying for health or life insurance. 2. Member of a national or state board of medical examiners. 3. Physician authorized by a government agency to determine cause of death for a situation that does not occur under natural circumstance. See also coroner .

Type of health insurance that provides benefits for health care costs incurred for medical care such as hospital room and board, surgeon’s fees, office visits to doctors, prescription drugs, medical treatments, and nursing care. Some managed care plans offer benefits for preventive care.
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HEALTH: Health insurance that covers medical and surgical expenses, as well as hospital expenses.

1. Group of physicians and/or providers structured as a sole professional business that is recognized under state law as an entity to practice a medical profession. 2. In a managed care plan, a professional organization of physicians that contracts with a health plan to deliver both primary or basic and special medical care to plan members.

National membership organization that provides information, networking, and professional development for the individuals who manage and lead medical group practices. Its purpose is to improve the effectiveness of medical group practices and the knowledge and skills of the individuals who manage and lead them. It provides its members data on physician compensation, performance efficiency, and medical practice comparisons.

When an individual uses a person’s name and sometimes other parts of the identity such as insurance information without the person’s knowledge or consent to obtain medical services or goods or uses the person’s identity information to make false claims for medical services or goods. Also called identity theft .

Study of storage, retrieval, analysis, and communication of biomedical and clinical information to improve medical decision-making by physicians and managers of health care organizations. Also referred to as medical information science and informatics .