Glossary · Care and services
What does medically necessary mean?
Medically necessary care is health care services or supplies needed to diagnose or treat an illness, injury, condition, disease, or its symptoms that meet accepted standards of medicine.
Definition and figures from HealthCare.gov glossary, checked October 23, 2026. This page explains the term; it does not recommend a plan.
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Medically necessary: the facts
| Item | Fact | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Accepted standards of medicine | HealthCare.gov glossary: Medically necessary |
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What does medically necessary mean in health insurance?
Medically necessary care is health care services or supplies needed to diagnose or treat an illness, injury, condition, disease, or its symptoms that meet accepted standards of medicine.