Medical Insurance: Definition, Examples & Coverage

Meaning 1：health coverage (Medical insurance)

Medical insurance 🔊

/ˈmɛdɪkəl ɪnˈʃʊrəns/

A plan that helps pay for medical costs when you are sick or injured, so you don't have to worry too much about money.

Smiling person holding medical insurance card at clinic with doctor

health coverage 🔊

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/hɛlθ ˈkʌvərɪdʒ/

A system or policy that helps individuals pay for medical expenses, typically through regular payments to an insurance company.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Medical from Latin 'medicus'; insurance from 'securus'. Combined: financial protection for healthcare.

💡 Mnemonic

Your 'med' is 'sure' with insurance – Medical Insurance ensures your health costs are covered.

📖 Example

When my friend broke her arm, her medical insurance covered the hospital bill, so she only paid a small amount. 🔊 When her friend broke an arm, the medical insurance paid for most of the hospital costs, so she only had to pay a little.

🔗 Collocations

purchase medical insurance – buy health coverage

claim medical insurance – request payment from the insurance provider

medical insurance policy – the contract document detailing coverage

🔄 Synonyms

health coverage (n) – A broad term for insurance that covers medical expenses.

medical coverage (n) – Another name for health insurance, focusing on medical services.

health plan (n) – A specific insurance plan that provides medical benefits.

🚫 Antonyms

self-pay (n) – Paying for medical expenses out of pocket without insurance.

uninsured (adj) – Having no medical insurance coverage.

🌱 Derivatives

insurer (n) – A company that provides insurance.

insured (n/adj) – A person covered by insurance.

insurable (adj) – Eligible to be insured.

📖 Cultural Story

First modern health insurance introduced in Germany in 1883 by Chancellor Bismarck. Spread globally as a risk-pooling system for medical costs.