Can I Use Both My Healthcare Insurance & My Spouse's Insurance?

Without the help of insurance, many people would find it difficult to pay for the cost of medical care. Health insurance is designed to provide coverage for expensive medical treatments, surgeries, doctors' visits and emergency room care. While obtaining health insurance coverage can be a challenge for many, there are a lucky few who have access to not one but multiple health insurance plans. If you are covered by two health insurance providers, you have what is commonly referred to as dual coverage.

Coordination of Benefits

• If you are fortunate enough to have dual health insurance coverage through your own policy and your spouse's insurance, your health insurance coverage is subject to a coordination of benefits (COB). According to the website oxhp, coordination of benefits is a standard procedure in the insurance industry. COB helps establish the order in which a health insurance provider covers medical benefits if more than one insurance policy exists, and it includes medicare coverage. Coordination of benefits dictates which insurance policy is primarily responsible for covering medical expenses before the secondary policy kicks in to cover the remaining portion.

Benefits of Dual Coverage

• You may wish to take advantage of dual coverage if the opportunity become available to you. Health insurance providers offer varying limits on the amount of healthcare costs they cover in the course of a given year. If you or your spouse suffer an illness or injury that results in high medical bills, you could reach the maximum amount allowable by your insurance carrier. If this situation occurs, your secondary policy would be required to step in and cover the remaining medical expenses up to the allowable limits. Dual coverage can provide two layers of protection from the high cost of medical care.

Disadvantages of Dual Coverage

• According to the website Insure, COB can be complicated, particularly if the dual health insurance plans are different, such as an HMO versus an indemnity plan. If the two insurance carriers have different rules for determining the coordination of benefits, you may have difficulty getting either one to cover your medical costs.

Financial Considerations

• If you and your spouse have the benefit of an affordable health insurance plan offered through an employer or membership in an organization, you may be content maintaining a double layer of protection. You may require extra insurance protection if you have ongoing health concerns or need frequent medical care. If you are paying high premiums for two policies you don't really need, however, you may wish to reevaluate. Review the limits of your insurance policies to determine if you and your spouse can get by with one policy. You may be able to streamline your insurance and save money in the long run.