|  | Healthcare Industry | Health Insurance

What Will Medicaid Cover As a Secondary Insurance?

Medicaid is a program that provides for medical benefits for individuals who have low incomes or suffer from disabilities. The rules of the Medicaid program require you to use it as a secondary health insurance policy when you have other insurance available. In this situation, Medicaid can help you in several situations related to health care.

  1. How It Works

    • The basic idea behind Medicaid as a supplemental insurance policy is that it can help you pay for anything that your primary insurance coverage does not pay for. For example, if you need medical help and you use your primary health insurance, you may have to pay a deductible and coinsurance. When you pay these costs, Medicaid, as your secondary insurance policy could help reimburse you for the out-of-pocket costs. This way, Medicaid does not have to pay for the entire amount billed, only a small percentage.

    Doctor Expenses

    • Medicaid as a secondary insurance policy can help you pay for a variety of expenses related to doctor visits. If you need to visit a doctor for tests or for a checkup, your primary insurance may cover the majority of the expenses. Then your doctor can file another claim with Medicaid to pay for the remainder of your doctor visits. With this type of coverage, you may not have to pay anything out of pocket when you visit the doctor.

    Hospital Expenses

    • Medicaid can also provide you with help hospital expenses. When you have to go into the hospital for treatment, surgery or for an emergency, your primary insurance company will cover most of your bill up to a certain limit. You may also be required to pay for coinsurance up to a specific amount. Your Medicaid coverage will typically pay for the costs associated with this type of medical care.

    Long-Term Care

    • Medicaid is also known for providing assistance with long-term care. If you have regular medical insurance, it will usually not cover anything regarding long-term care in a nursing home or at-home care. If you have a long-term care insurance policy, Medicaid can act as a secondary insurance policy for this. It can provide you with a daily benefit to help pay for long-term care costs that are not covered by your long-term care insurance policy.

Health Insurance - Related Articles