Can You Have Two Health Insurance Coverage Plans?

People generally rely on the coverage of one health insurance policy for their medical needs. However, situations can arise where coverage under more than one policy may apply, often as a result of marriage.

Considerations

• It is common for an individual and his spouse to each have health coverage through their own employers. This makes it possible for someone to be covered under two separate health insurance policies.

Significance

• When someone is covered under two policies, it is necessary to determine which coverage is primary and which is secondary, to avoid having a duplication of benefits. As a rule of thumb, the primary coverage will be the one that the claimant applied for himself, not the one where he is listed as a dependent, such as on his wife's policy.

Secondary Coverage

• The secondary policy may be used for additional coverage. For example, if the policyholder files a claim on her primary insurance but her medical expenses exceed the policy's limits, she can then see if the secondary policy will pick up the additional coverage.