Can you buy more health insurance than your employer coverage?

Most employers typically provide some kind of group health insurance coverage for full-time employees. Still, it may not always be enough for your health care needs if you have extra expenses due cover to an illness or injury.

Your current insurance might some but not all your medical expenses, or there may be some medications and procedures that your policy doesn’t cover. In this case, you may need additional health insurance to help cover the costs that your employer’s group insurance may not.

If you need to buy more health insurance in addition to your employer coverage, you can purchase a secondary policy, apply for supplemental health insurance, or apply for government health insurance.

Secondary health insurance

You can purchase secondary health insurance in addition to your primary health care coverage from your employer.

Secondary insurance is a policy that stands alone and could be your only health insurance if you were to go down to one plan. A secondary health insurance policy will pay for the remaining balance of your health insurance claims after your primary insurance has taken care of its portion. It can also take care of the cost of procedures and expensive medical bills that your employer’s health care doesn’t cover.

Supplemental health insurance

Another option for additional health insurance is to apply for a supplemental health insurance policy. Supplemental insurance gives you extra coverage after your health insurance has paid its portion of your claim. These policies cover less than a primary or secondary health insurance plan, so they’re not designed to be used as a stand-alone policy.

Supplemental insurance helps pay for the expenses that may not be covered by your employer’s health insurance and help you pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses like copays, medical bills, and deductibles. It can also help with the cost of an unexpected critical illness and covered accidents. A supplemental insurance policy can also assist with non-medical expenses associated with an injury or serious illness like utility bills, childcare costs, and groceries.

Government health Insurance

Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP are other options for you if you need additional health insurance along with your employer insurance policy. You can also purchase affordable health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace. If you meet the qualifications for either program, this policy will act as your secondary health insurance to cover the remaining costs of your healthcare expenses.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a federal health insurance program that helps people with a limited income. Health insurance benefits through Medicaid are available for adults with low income, pregnant, children, and/or people with disabilities.

Medicare

Medicare is a federal program that offers health insurance plans for individuals aged 65 and over or under 65 with a disability. There are no income requirements to qualify for Medicare.

CHIP

CHIP stands for Children’s Health Insurance Program and provides low-cost health insurance for children who live in households whose income does not meet the requirements of Medicaid but who cannot afford private insurance.

Health Insurance Marketplace

The Health Insurance Marketplace is an online resource created by the Affordable Care Act designed for small businesses, families, and individuals to purchase affordable health insurance. On the marketplace website, you can compare different health insurance plans and buy the right policy for you.

Critical Illness: In Oklahoma, Policies B71100OK & B7110HOK. In Oregon, Policies B71100OR & B7110HOR. Accident: In Idaho, Policies A35100ID-A35200ID, & A35B24ID. In Oklahoma, Policies A35100OK-A35200OK, & A35B24OK. In Virginia, Policies A35100VA-A35400VA, A35B24VA, & A35BOFVA.

Coverage may not be available in all states including but not limited to: ID, NJ, NY & VA. Benefits and/or premiums may vary based on the state and benefit option selected. Riders are available for an additional premium. The policy has limitations, exclusions and pre-existing condition limitations that may affect benefits payable. The policy may contain a waiting period. Refer to the policy for benefit details, definitions, limitations and exclusions. For costs and complete details of the coverage, contact your Aflac insurance agent/producer.

This material is intended to provide general information about an evolving topic and does not constitute legal, tax or accounting advice regarding any specific situation. Aflac cannot anticipate all the facts that a particular employer or individual will have to consider in their benefits decision-making process. We strongly encourage readers to discuss their HCR situations with their advisors to determine the actions they need to take or to visit healthcare.gov (which may also be contacted at 1-800-318-2596) for additional information.

Content within this article is provided for general informational purposes and is not provided as tax, legal, health, or financial advice for any person or for any specific situation. Employers, employees, and other individuals should contact their own advisers about their situations. For complete details, including availability and costs of Aflac insurance, please contact your local Aflac agent.

Aflac insurance coverage is underwritten by Aflac. In New York, coverage underwritten by Aflac New York.

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Senior PR & Corporate Communications contact: Angie Blackmar, 706-763-4813 or ABlackmar2@aflac.com

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