medical underwriting


medical underwriting

The process that an insurance company uses to decide, based on known or anticipated medical needs, whether or not to insure an individual or group, or to add a waiting period for pre-existing conditions, and to determine the cost of the premium (policy).
Medical underwriting may have a negative overtone, as it is a process undertaken by the insurer seen to be intended to penalise—if only financially—those who are at high risk for or already have certain diseases, by charging them higher premiums or by completely denying them coverage.

medical underwriting

Managed care The process of determining the medical needs of an individual or group before providing coverage. See Health insurance.