Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)
Managed-care insurers — known generally as HMOs — use a primary care physician as a gatekeeper to screen patients and see that appropriate treatment takes place at the lowest level possible. In order to see a specialist or receive specialized care, patients must see the gatekeeper physician first and be referred on.

Stand-Alone Life
This plan type provides life insurance but does not include any other coverage.

Indemnity
Indemnity plans are also referred to as “fee-for-service.” Unlike managed-care plans, indemnity plans allow absolute freedom in selecting physicians or medical facilities and permit self-referral to a specialist.

COBRA Benefits
COBRA stands for “Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985,” which requires companies with 20 or more employees to offer separating employees the option to continue their group health-care coverage at their own expense.

Basic Hospital
Basic-hospital plans cover only in-hospital (inpatient) care, not other services. This benefit also may be limited to an approved or network facility. Hospitalization in a different facility may qualify for less coverage or none at all.

Stand-Alone Prescription
This plan type provides prescription-drug coverage, which generally means the insured person can obtain prescription drugs at a set price of a few dollars, but does not include any other coverage.

Deregulation
Under Washington state law known as “use-and-file,” commercial property/casualty contracts negotiated between insurers and businesses may go into effect immediately. The policy itself can be filed for state review later.

Employment practices
This kind of coverage will help defend against employment-related claims such as sexual harassment, age discrimination, or wrongful termination. Some policies offer legal assistance; others may pay both legal costs and damages.

Professional liability
Often called “malpractice insurance” or “errors and omissions coverage,” these policies protect professionals such as accountants, lawyers, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, insurance brokers and agents, and consultants, for negligence that injures their clients.

Automobile
If you own and operate commercial vehicles, you should make sure that your fleet is appropriately insured. If business use of a vehicle is minimal and limited to your personal vehicle, the necessary coverage can probably be included in your personal policy. Best bet: Check with your agent to be sure.