Most likely, you already have health insurance to help you pay for your medical care. But as you know, copays, coinsurance, and deductibles are all expenses you may still be responsible for paying. Depending on your health insurance plan and the kind of care you need, those costs can add up to a significant amount.
That’s where supplemental health insurance comes in. Like its name implies, supplemental health insurance is meant to supplement, or be used in addition to, your primary health insurance.
Supplemental health insurance plans are designed to help pay for some of the healthcare costs your primary plan does not cover, including copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
Many different types of supplemental health insurance are available, and it’s your choice whether you want to purchase any of them or not. Before purchasing supplemental health insurance, you may want to consider your risk factors, how much insurance you want, and what you want to be insured for. Supplemental health insurance plans are optional. The benefits offered and amounts of the benefits vary by plan and provider.
Options often include:
- Vision
- Dental care
- Accidents
- Cancer
- Critical illness
- Disabilities
- Long-term care
- Supplemental Travel Insurance
- Medicare or Medicaid supplement plans
- Medigap
- Hospital Indemnity Insurance
If you’re thinking about buying supplemental health insurance, consider whether your health plan would cover treatment costs associated with an accident or serious illness, and if you could cover out-of-pocket costs if you were sick/out of work for an extended period of time.
So if you’re considering supplemental health insurance, make sure you examine your own health and financial circumstances before you decide if it’s right for you. Seek out a financial advisor or contact your state’s insurance commissioner/department of insurance if you have any questions about coverage. If you decide to purchase supplemental health insurance, contact an independent broker or licensed insurance agent.
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