What does COB stand for in healthcare terms?

COB stands for Coordination of Benefits in healthcare terms. This process refers to how multiple health insurance plans work together to provide coverage to an individual who is eligible for more than one plan. When a patient has coverage from more than one insurer, the COB process determines the order in which the plans pay for the healthcare services received. The primary insurance pays first, followed by the secondary insurance that may cover some or all of the remaining costs.

Understanding COB is essential for healthcare access professionals because it helps in ensuring that patients are billed correctly and that insurance claims are processed efficiently. This process not only helps prevent overpayments by the patient but also ensures that the healthcare provider receives appropriate reimbursement for services rendered.

Coordination of billing, cost of benefits, and control of billing do not accurately reflect the framework of managing multiple insurance coverages, which is why they do not capture the primary concept of COB in a healthcare context.