Who is considered the member or policyholder in an insurance plan?

The member or policyholder in an insurance plan is the person who owns the insurance policy. This individual is responsible for managing the insurance contract and is typically the one who pays the premiums. In most cases, the policyholder has the authority to make decisions regarding the policy, such as adding or removing covered individuals, which may include family members or dependents.

While the person who pays for the insurance is often the policyholder, there are scenarios where someone else may pay the premiums on behalf of the policyholder (such as an employer contributing to an employee’s health insurance). Family members who are covered under the policy are not classified as members or policyholders; they are typically referred to as dependents. Healthcare providers, on the other hand, do not hold any ownership of the insurance policy; they simply provide services to the insured individuals as part of the coverage. Therefore, the definition of a member or policyholder is specifically rooted in ownership and control over the insurance policy, which is why it is the correct answer.