Primary Insurance vs. Secondary Insurance – Things to Know

Primary insurance and secondary insurance are one of those things that you can have for more than one. When two health plans cover you over, one plan is considered primary and the other is supplementary or secondary. In this article, we will show you things to know about these insurance types.

The difference

The primary one is an insurance plan that covers an individual as a member, subscriber, or employee. This insurance will be billed first when you sign up for health care. If your workplace grants health insurance to you, this is your primary insurance then.

On the other hand, secondary insurance is an insurance plan that complements your primary. In case your primary is exhausted and needs some help to cover the bill, the secondary insurance will do that. Terms and conditions are applied, however.

Not all individuals are eligible for secondary insurance

Other than the life insurance plan, most people have a primary health insurance plan. However, not all people have a secondary health plan – besides they don’t apply for that, some people are simply not eligible. As we have mentioned earlier, terms and conditions apply when it comes to signing up for secondary insurance.

If you are married but you and your spouse are covered by different health plans then you are eligible for secondary insurance. Children covered by health plan coverage under one or both parents can receive secondary insurance. For further information, you can ask your insurance provider. Benefits of having two health plans

More than anything, having two health plans benefit you. When you need to cover health care expenses but your primary health insurance cannot cover the entire bill, you can use your secondary insurance. Other benefits may include copays and deductibles, vision or dental services, cancer care, critical care for injuries, and other unexpected events.

Can you choose which one to use?

As we have mentioned earlier, your health care expenses will charge your primary health insurance. You simply cannot choose which one to use though. Most importantly, make sure your secondary is in-network under your primary. Those two things need to walk hand-in-hand or you can only use your primary health insurance.

Conclusion

Everyone can always have more than one health insurance plan. However, make sure you are eligible to have two health plans and your primary one considers the secondary as in-network. Feel free to upgrade your primary insurance though.