Texas Insurance Code 1255.001 – Definitions
Terms Used In Texas Insurance Code 1255.001
- Dependent: A person dependent for support upon another.
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
In this chapter:
(1) “Continuing supervision by a health care provider” includes a period of incapacity that is permanent or long-term due to a condition for which treatment may not be effective and for which the affected individual is not receiving active treatment by a health care provider.
(2) “Dependent” means an individual who is under 18 years of age, or 18 years of age or older and incapable of self-care due to a mental or physical disability, and is, in relation to an insured:
(A) a biological, adopted, or foster child;
(B) a legal ward;
(C) a child of the insured’s spouse;
(D) a child with respect to whom the insured is a party to a suit in which the insured seeks to adopt the child; or
(E) a child of a person to whom the insured stands in loco parentis.
(3) “Family leave” means leave taken by an employee from work for reasons described by § 1255.102.
(4) “Family leave insurance” means an insurance policy issued through an employer related to a benefit program provided to an employee to pay for a portion of the employee’s income loss due to family leave taken by the employee.
(5) “Family member,” in relation to an insured, includes a dependent, spouse, or parent or any other person defined as a family member in the family leave insurance policy.
(6) “Health care provider” means a person licensed, certified, or otherwise authorized by the laws of this state to provide health care services in the ordinary course of business or practice of a profession.
(7) “Parent” means, in relation to an insured:
(A) a biological, adoptive, or foster parent;
(B) a stepparent;
(C) a legal guardian; or
(D) a person who stood in loco parentis to the insured when the insured was a child.
(8) “Serious health condition” means an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition, including transplantation preparation and recovery from surgery related to organ or tissue donation, that involves:
(A) inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential health care facility;
(B) continuing treatment; or
(C) continuing supervision by a health care provider.