Unsolicited e-mail message, commercial or political, transmitted to many people at the same time.

Particular association of providers for a specific type of service (e.g., mental health, prescription drugs, substance abuse).

Long-term care facility units with services specifically for persons with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, head injuries, or other disorders. Also see intensive care unit (ICU) .

Time in which an individual is given a special election period to change Medicare+Choice plans or return to Original Medicare in certain situations. Situations in which this occurs include (1) when a person makes a permanent move outside the service area, (2) when the Medicare+Choice organization breaks its contract with the insured or does not renew its contract with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), or (3) when other exceptional conditions determined by CMS apply. The special election period is different from the special enrollment period (SEP). See election period .

One of four periods during which an individual can enroll in Medicare Part A. SEP is for people who did not take Medicare Part A during their initial enrollment period (IEP) because they currently work and have group health plan coverage through their employer or union. He or she can sign up for Medicare Part A at any time they are covered under the group health plan based on current employment. If the employment or group health coverage ends, the individual has 8 months to sign up. The 8 months start the month after the employment ends or the group health coverage ends, whichever comes first. See also initial enrollment period (IEP), general enrollment period (GEP), and transfer enrollment period (TEP).

Under Medicare, type of plan that provides more focused health care for specific groups of individuals such as those who have both Medicare and Medicaid or those who reside in a nursing home.

Securities of the U.S. government issued exclusively to the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI); Disability Insurance (DI); Health Insurance (HI); and Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) trust funds and other federal trust funds. Section 1841(a) of the Social Security Act provides that the public-debt obligations issued for purchase by the SMI trust fund shall have maturities fixed with due regard for the needs of the funds. The usual practice in the past has been to spread the holdings of special issues, as of every June 30, so that the amounts maturing in each of the next 15 years are approximately equal. Special public-debt obligations are redeemable at par at any time.

Document that gives the details of an unusual or infrequently performed medical procedure and supports the necessity for providing services. It is submitted with an insurance claim.

Medical doctor who has received training in a specific area of medicine and who treats only certain parts of the body, certain health problems, or certain age groups such as cardiovascular surgeon, dermatologist, and endocrinologist. These doctors are board certified by doing additional advanced residency training followed by several years of practice in the specialty and then passing a specialty board examination. Members of managed care plans usually need approval from their primary care physician to see a specialist.