July 2007

The Benefits of Secondary Health Insurance

Millions of American families are eligible for health benefits provided by both spouses’ employers. Many choose to purchase benefits from both, hoping to recoup more expenses between the two policies.

This practice can be pricey and, at times, useless. The Wall Street Journal says families who don’t consolidate under a single employer-sponsored health plan are often unaware that such policies are designed to prevent redundant coverage. In other words, you often can’t get payment for one incident from two insurers. Only in isolated cases is it worth paying the additional premium for a secondary insurer who offers essentially the same benefits as the primary.

In some cases, however, a secondary health insurance policy does provide essential coverage. With the reduction in employee health benefits and the existence of extended family dependents, available employer policy options might not meet your health insurance needs. Also, families with extraordinary circumstances might need special coverage.

If you have special circumstances or your employer doesn’t offer dependent coverage, a secondary policy might help fill your family’s needs. Our team of insurance specialists can advise you on options. Give us a call for more information.