State of belonging to a managed care plan as a subscribing member and entitled to the benefits, right, privileges, and obligations. For family coverage, this may include enrollment of eligible dependents.

Formal contract with a health plan that consists of enrollment application, health statements, and certificate of coverage including any amendments. Also referred to as membership service agreement .

Prospective applicant’s enrollment form when applying to a health plan for health coverage. It must be signed and may serve as an agreement between the member and the health plan. Also see application form .

Insurance company’s electronic master file of information on insured individuals such as names, certificate numbers, and contract data.

Document that provides a general description of the responsibilities that are to be assumed by two or more parties in their pursuit of some goals. It is used when agencies enter into a joint project in which (1) they each contribute their own resources and the scope of work is broad and not specific to any one project or (2) there is no exchange of goods or services between the participating agencies.

Equality of health insurance coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders and substance abuse services. National and state organizations have made efforts to obtain progress in this direction. See Mental Health Parity Act (MHPA).

Federal legislation enacted on September 26, 1996, that prohibits a lifetime dollar amount on mental health benefits by group health insurance plans and those that issue coverage under such plans.