adverse selection
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Adverse Selection
Clinical genetics An event in which an insurer avoids underwriting a person whose genetic profile indicates a high chance of suffering an "expensive" condition in the future—e.g., Huntington’s disease (Armed with such information, an insurance carrier may deny coverage—i.e., adversely select—a person with a high risk of suffering the disease in question; alternatively, that person may take out a large insurance policy on standard terms).Health insurance The tendency of those with greater-than-average health risks to apply for, or maintain, insurance coverage.
Managed Care
(1) A stance adopted by health care insurers, which fiercely compete among themselves to insure the healthiest and wealthiest segment of a particular population, and thus adversely select the population which they target for selling insurance policies.
(2) The selection of a health plan, whether indemnity or managed care, over other plans by those enrollees who are more likely to file claims and use services, causing an inequitable proportion of enrollees requiring more medical services in that plan.
Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
adverse selection
Managed care1. A stance adopted by health care insurers, which fiercely compete among themselves to insure the healthiest and wealthiest segment of a particular population, and thus adversely select the population which they target for selling insurance policies. See 'Safety net' hospital.
2. A health plan, whether indemnity or managed care, is selected over other plans by enrollees who are more likely to file claims and use services, causing an inequitable proportion of enrollees requiring more medical services in that plan.
McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
adverse selection
The enrollment in a health plan of those who are sicker or use more health care services than the general population.
See also: selection
Medical Dictionary, © 2009 Farlex and Partners