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Cardiology Charges — Charges for heart procedures. Examples are heart catheterization and stress testing.

Case Management — A way to help you get the care you need, especially when you need preauthorized care from several services. Usually a nurse helps arrange for your care.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) — The federal agency that runs the Medicare program. In addition, CMS works with the States to run the Medicaid program. CMS works to make sure that the beneficiaries in these programs are able to get high quality healthcare.

Certificate of Coverage (COC) — A description of the benefits included in a carrier's plan. The certificate of coverage is required by state laws and represents the coverage provided under the contract issued to the employer.

CHAMPUS — Insurance linked to military service, also know as TriCare.

Charity Care — Free or reduced-fee care for patients who have financial hardship.

Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) — A federal program jointly funded by states and the federal government, which provides medical insurance coverage for children not covered by state Medicaid-funded programs.

Claim — Your medical bill that is sent to an insurance company for processing.

Claim Number — A number given to a medical service.

Clean Claim — A claim that does not have to be investigated by insurance companies before they process it.

Clinic — An area in a hospital or separate building that treats regularly scheduled or walk-in patients for non-emergency care.

COBRA Insurance — Health insurance that you can buy when you lose your job. It is generally more expensive than insurance provided through your job but less expensive than insurance purchased on your own when you are unemployed.

Coding of Claims — Translating diagnoses and procedures in your medical record into numbers that computers can understand.

Coinsurance — The cost sharing part of your bill that you have to pay.

Coinsurance Days (Medicare) — Hospital Inpatient Medicare coverage from day 61 to day 90 of continuous hospitalization. You are responsible for paying for part of those days. After the 90th day, you enter your "Lifetime Reserve Days."

Collection Agency — A business that collects money for unpaid bills.

Consent (for treatment) — An agreement you sign that gives your permission to receive medical services or treatment from doctors or hospitals.

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) — A federal law that requires employers to offer continued health insurance coverage to certain employees and their beneficiaries whose group health insurance coverage has been terminated. Applies to employers with 20 or more eligible employees. Typically, COBRA makes continued coverage available for up to 18 or 36 months. COBRA enrollees may be required to pay 100 percent of the premium, plus an additional 2 percent.

Contractual Adjustment — A part of your bill that your doctor or hospital must write off (not charge you) because of billing agreements with your insurance company.

Coordinated Coverage — Integrating benefits payable under more than one health insurance (for example, Medicare and retiree health  benefits). Coordinated coverage is typically arranged so the insured benefits from all sources not exceding 100 percent of allowable medical expenses. Coordinated coverage may require beneficiaries to pay some deductible or co-insurance.

Coordination of Benefits (COB) — A way to decide which insurance company is responsible for payment if you have more than one insurance plan.

Co-payment — A cost sharing part of your bill that is your responsibility to pay. Also known as co-pay.

Coronary Care — Routine charges for care you receive in a heart center because you need more care than you can get in a regular medical unit.

Covered Benefit — A health service or item that is included in your health plan, and that is paid for either partially or fully.

Covered Days — Days that your insurance company pays for in full or in part.

CPT Codes — A coding system used to describe what treatment or services were given to you by your doctor.

CT Scan — A type of x-ray of the head or body; usually done in a hospital's x-ray department.