Your health insurance needs can change from year to year. Maybe you had a baby, your kids joined a sports team or you have more room in your budget. These life changes can make it easier or more important to consider extra coverage.
A supplemental insurance plan can be added to your regular health insurance coverage. Learn what supplemental insurance is, and how to figure out what types of plans you might need.
What is supplemental insurance?
Supplemental insurance plans are extra plans and programs that do not take the place of traditional health insurance. You aren’t required to buy them. But if you do decide to purchase these types of additional plans, there's a monthly premium for supplemental insurance that isn't included in the premiums for your primary health insurance.
Instead, it's better to think of supplemental insurance as a safety net. For example, supplemental insurance can help pay for services like dental and vision care, which aren’t usually included in your primary health plan. Or it can provide cash benefits when you need them after an accident or during a major illness.
Supplemental plans include:
Other programs that may be good to add are membership- or subscription-based non-insurance programs where you pay a monthly or yearly fee. These include programs like:
- Prescription discount cards
Why you might need supplemental insurance
Sometimes, even good health insurance doesn't pay for everything you need. Nearly 1 in 10 Americans have medical debt, with emergency room trips, doctor visits and dental care being among the top 5 causes of debt.1
Supplemental insurance plans can help with out-of-pocket costs or medical care for specific healthcare needs. For example, if you break your leg, accident insurance can help pay for things like ambulance rides or doctor visits. A dental plan may offset the costs of having to get dental X-rays and cavity fillings.
How to decide if you need supplemental insurance
When you’re shopping for your primary health plan during the annual ACA Open Enrollment Period, it may make sense to ask yourself some questions. This can help you figure out if you also need to enroll in some supplemental plans. Even more importantly, it can help you decide which supplemental insurance you actually need.
So here are some questions to get you started:
1. What is your plan’s deductible?
Your deductible is the amount you pay for covered services before your insurance plan starts paying.2 For example, if your deductible is $1,650, you would pay the first $1,650 before your insurance company starts paying for covered services.
High deductibles mean you pay more out-of-pocket expenses before your insurance begins covering costs. This can create a financial burden. That’s where a supplemental plan can help.
One option to consider is a hospital indemnity plan. It provides a fixed cash benefit if you're hospitalized due to illness or injury. That cash benefit can help cover:
- Deductibles and copayments
- Travel and lodging expenses
Hospital indemnity plans can offer cash benefits during unexpected medical events, helping lower your stress and assist with your finances.
Don’t let a hospital stay derail your budget — explore supplemental hospital insurance plans that can help you pay for these unexpected expenses.
2. Does your plan include vision and dental?
Once you know your deductible, it’s worth checking whether your plan covers dental and vision. Many major medical plans don’t automatically include these benefits, which is where supplemental vision and dental plans come in.3,4
Supplemental vision insurance often covers:
- Glasses and/or contact lenses
- In-network and out-of-network providers (though benefits may not be the same for out-of-network providers)
Dental coverage is just as important and can often be paired with vision. Typical dental insurance coverage includes:
- Preventive care, like cleanings and X-rays, twice a year
- Basic procedures, such as fillings
- Major services, including crowns and root canals
Taking care of your teeth and gums has been linked to better health, and regular eye exams can help catch many chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.5 Adding dental or vision coverage can help you stay on top of your long-term health — and reduce the financial impact of unexpected issues.
Help protect your teeth and your wallet. Explore dental plans that may make dental care easier on your budget.
3. Are doctors hard to reach where you live?
Access to any type of healthcare provider can be a challenge. Roughly 83 million Americans live in a community with a shortage of primary care doctors, according to the American Medical Association.6
Some supplemental plans include telehealth memberships, letting you connect with doctors and specialists by phone or video.
Telehealth memberships are not insurance but they can make care easier to access by offering:
- Convenient appointments, often including evenings and weekends
- Faster access to providers, with no travel time or waiting rooms
If your primary health plan doesn’t cover telehealth, a separate membership program that does might be a good fit.
4. Did things in your life change?
Maybe you got married or had a baby this past year. Or maybe you got a promotion and became the main wage earner in your family. If so, you might want to consider term life insurance.
This type of life insurance pays benefits to your surviving family members in the unfortunate case that you pass away. Typically, the policy lasts for a set number of years (usually 10 or 20). And you name a beneficiary. This can be your partner or even a close family friend.
Your beneficiary can decide what to use the benefits for, either tuition for a child, funeral expenses or even paying the bills.
5. Did you leave your job or get a new one?
Changes in the workplace or to your job can affect what benefits are included in your health plan. If you’re self-employed, working part-time or starting a new job, your coverage might start to get a little less comprehensive.
Supplemental plans can help fill these gaps. If you’re self-employed or only work part-time, consider adding a supplemental vision or dental plan to help cover expenses.
Or maybe you’re waiting for your new employer-sponsored health plan to start or you’re in between jobs. Consider enrolling in a short term medical plan so you aren’t left without health insurance during that period.
Thinking about all the available options now can help prevent large out-of-pocket costs and help you prepare for the unexpected.
Supplemental insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. It depends on your needs, budget and life stage. By asking the right questions now, you can decide if adding a plan or two to your primary health insurance makes sense. Supplemental plans are designed to help you take care of your health.
Ready to explore supplemental plans? Call 1-844-211-7730 to speak with a licensed insurance agent, or learn more about supplemental plans online.
For informational purposes only. This information is compiled by UnitedHealthcare, and/or one of its affiliates, and does not diagnose problems or recommend specific treatment. Services and medical technologies referenced herein may not be covered under your plan. Please consult directly with your primary care physician if you need medical advice.
Sources
- Annals of Medicine and Surgery. “Healthcare debts in the United States: a silent fight.” January 21, 2025. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11918610/
- Healthcare.gov. “Deductible.” Accessed September 7. Retrieved from https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/deductible/
- Healthcare.gov. “Vision coverage.” Accessed September 7. Retrieved from https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/vision-or-vision-coverage/
- Healthcare.gov. “Dental Coverage in the Marketplace.” Accessed September 7. Retrieved from https://www.healthcare.gov/coverage/dental-coverage/
- Mayo Clinic. “Oral health: A window to your overall health.” March 14, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/dental/
- St. George’s University. “A Closer Look at the US Doctor Shortage.” March 23, 2023. Retrieved from https://www.sgu.edu/school-of-medicine/blog/us-doctor-shortage/
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