Used in two senses in health policy discussions. (1) Employer or individual mandate, in which a government body imposes a requirement on some employers to help pay for insurance coverage for their workers (and perhaps their families), and/or on certain individuals to obtain coverage. (2) State mandate, a requirement imposed by states on insurance companies to include, as part of any health insurance policy they sell, coverage for a specific service, such as well baby care, or a specific provider, such as a psychologist or optometrist.