| Radiation therapy | This is a treatment used to fight cancer. High-energy rays damage cancer cells so they stop growing. |
| Reasonable and customary (R & C) charge | This is a limit set by a health plan on the amount the plan considers eligible for coverage when members get care from health care professionals who do not have a contract with a plan. This is also known as a “usual, customary, and reasonable charge.” Learn more. |
| Reasonable occupation or job | This is a paid occupation or job a disabled person can get through training or skill. |
| Rebase | This is when the entire base of a denture is replaced without changing the teeth. |
| Recurrent disability | This means a person gets disability benefits more than once for the same reason. There is a period in between when they are back at work. There is a limit to how long this time period can be. |
| Referral | This is a form your doctor gives you so you can get care from a specialist or health care facility. It may be written or sent by computer. |
| Rehabilitation engineering | This is done to help disabled people live better. It can help them do their job. It can also help them in community and daily life activities. It can be building a wood ramp for a wheelchair. It can be using a computer that responds to a voice. These are just two examples. |
| Rehabilitation program | This is a program that helps a person improve his or her health so he or she can return to work. Physical, mental and career training is used. |
| Reimbursement | This is money you get back from your health plan for covered costs you paid to your doctor. |
| Related absences | This is when a worker is out of work two different times or more. The worker is out for the same health problem each time. |
| Reline | This is when a dentist resurfaces part of a denture to make it fit better. |
| Renewal | This is when an insurance policy continues, but with changed terms, like new rates. |
| Respiratory therapy | This treatment brings dry or moist gases into the lungs. |
| Respite care | This is care that gives families a short break from the duties of constant care. |
| Retiree | This is an employee who has retired from working. To be called this, he or she must meet the employer’s rules for minimum age and years of service. |
| Retiree reimbursement account (RRA) | This is a type of account people can use after they have retired. It can help pay for health plan premiums and medical costs. The employer puts money into the account. Balances roll over year to year, per employer rules. |
| Retirement rule | This rule sets the benefit amounts that retired workers can get. |
| Return-to-work (RTW) incentive | This lets workers who were disabled return to work part time. They can return if their disability benefits and pay are less than what they earned before they were disabled. |
| Rider | This is a policy that is separate from the main policy. It has changes in it that affect the main policy. |
| Risk | This is the chance or likelihood of loss. |
| Rollover feature | This lets a person carry forward or “roll over” any balance in a health fund. The amount can be used to pay for health care costs in future years. |
| Root canal | This is the space in the center or “canal” of the tooth that contains the pulp and the root of the tooth. A root canal treatment takes red or infected tissue out of the canal of the tooth root. Then, the empty canals are cleaned and sealed so the tooth does not have to be pulled. |
| Root planing and scaling | This is how a dentist removes buildup under the gum line. It smoothes the surface so bacteria can’t form as easily. |
| RRA | See “Retiree reimbursement account.” |
| RTW | See “ Return-to-work incentive.” |
| Rx | This is a common symbol. It means “prescription” or “pharmacy.” |