Primary health insurance covers the cost of health care services and supplies. However, the primary insurance policy does not cover all the costs of healthcare services and supplies. It leaves a gap to be paid for by the policyholder. Examples are Copayments and deductibles. Copayments are fixed rates paid by the policyholder out of pocket every time the policyholder uses the health insurance plan. It is usually determined by the insurance company. Deductibles are like copayments but deductibles are paid yearly. Deductibles are the amount that the policyholder has to pay out of pocket for medical services and supplies every year before the insurance company can begin to cover the costs. This birthed the need for a plan that will cover the gaps left by the original health insurance plan, thus supplemental health insurance policy.
A supplemental health insurance policy is a policy that fills the loopholes in a primary health insurance policy. Medicare supplemental health insurance policy fills the gaps that the health insurance leaves. This reduces the adverse effect of the out of pocket expenses on your finances. Supplemental insurance also is taken to cover certain illnesses or accidents not covered in your general health insurance plan. As a rule of practice, you should have a general health insurance plan before applying for a supplemental insurance plan. This is because supplemental insurance policies supplement an already existing plan so if you do not have a plan, there will be nothing for the plan to supplement. Another reason for this rule is that supplemental health insurance policies are specific by nature. They only cover the specific thing you enroll them for. Examples are accidental coverage, cancer coverage, hospital indemnity insurance, critical illness.
There are about ten types of supplemental insurance plans available and sold by different private companies. They have been labeled A, B, C, D, F, G, K, L, M, and N. Each plan covers something different. Depending on your budget and the premium you decide to pay, each plan has its benefits. The idea is that your coverage is almost proportional to your coverage.
Although supplemental health insurance policies are regulated by the Federal Government, it is provided by private insurance companies. Thus, the prices of policies are not determined by the government but by the individual companies. Providing insurance is a business, and the companies want to make a profit thus the cost of a supplemental insurance policy also depends on the company you decide to go with. It is therefore advisable for you to compare the prices and benefits of different companies before enrolling in a plan.
Since the introduction of supplemental insurance, of course, people have been wondering if they need a supplemental health insurance policy because they are comfortable with their general health insurance policy and do not see the point in paying more money to health insurance companies. If you have been wondering whether supplemental health insurance is worth it, then you should keep reading this article.
Is Getting a Supplemental Insurance Plan Worth It?
Whether supplemental health insurance is worth will depend on each individual. This is because there are different reasons for getting a supplemental health insurance plan. Reasons range from the health status of the policyholder to the financial status of the policyholder and even the family’s health history of the policyholder. Thus, the benefit the individual policyholder is getting from the supplemental health insurance plan will determine whether or not getting a supplemental health insurance plan is worth it. Your risk factors and how much insurance you need and what you want to be insured against will determine whether or not you need a supplemental insurance plan.
Several benefits of supplemental insurance have been outlined below to show you the benefits of supplemental health insurance and to help you determine if it is worth your money.
Financial Security
Perhaps one of the goals behind the introduction of supplemental health insurance policies was to provide financial security for policyholders. Research has shown that health issues are one of the top ten causes of individual bankruptcies. If you visit the hospital frequently and your out of pocket expenses keeps rising, getting a supplemental health insurance policy will be beneficial to you as it will reduce the effect of the out of pocket expenses on your finances.
Supplemental Health Insurance Policies Are Specific
Supplemental health insurance policies are taken to cover specific sicknesses or accidents. This is one difference between a supplemental insurance policy and a general health insurance policy. So, if you develop a certain illness after getting a general health insurance plan or you find out a certain illness is in your family’s health history and it is not covered by your general health insurance policy, to be insured against this illness, supplemental health insurance is your best option.
Supplemental Insurance Covers You Even When You Travel
Supplemental insurance covers you anywhere within the country. Some policies even cover your medical emergencies when you are abroad. This gives you the freedom to travel without worrying about health issues that might arise when you travel because you know you are covered.
Renewable Regardless of Health Problems
A supplemental health insurance policy is always renewable irrespective of the fact that you developed health issues. The implication of this is that as long as you pay your premiums, the insurance provider cannot cancel your policy. Any cancellation will be illegal.
Conclusion
Supplemental insurance does not cover everything however, getting supplemental health insurance is worth it. They are helpful as long as you have examined your primary health insurance policy to determine where you need additional coverage. Irrespective of your financial and health situation, there are plans available to fit your budget. The financial and health security that supplemental insurance policy gives you and your family makes it worth enrolling for. It will save you the financial strain of an unforeseen sickness or accident. Whatever happens, you will be glad you decided to enroll in a supplemental insurance policy.
If you’re exploring health insurance or looking for alternative healthcare plans, Life Insurance, or supplemental insurance plans feel free to reach out to our professional agents and see what program or programs might be right for you, that can help you through this time. Call Vivna, Inc. today to learn more here: 866.793.2301