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.

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.

Earthquake coverage
Quake coverage is available as additional coverage to standard commercial property and casualty policies. Earthquake coverage is available throughout Washington state, although it is relatively expensive for masonry structures and business operations with high-risk inventory or equipment.

Long-Term Disability (LTD)
Long-term-disability plans provide income for an individual who cannot work because of an illness, disease, or non-occupational injury. Most plans require that the individual be a full-time employee for at least one year before the disability coverage applies.

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.

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.

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.

Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO)
EPOs allow subscribers to visit any physician within the contracted network without prior approval or referrals. Services received outside the network may not be covered.

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.

Stand-Alone Dental
This plan type provides dental coverage but does not include any other coverage.