Supplemental health insurance fills the gaps in conventional health insurance policies, providing additional financial protection. Regular health insurance plans cover a range of medical expenses but come with varying terms for deductibles, copayments, and coverage limits. Here, supplemental health insurance policies are intended to offer individuals and families benefits like covering copayments or deductibles for a traditional plan or expenses for additional medical care not covered by the main insurance plan.

Types
Supplemental health insurance offers financial protection in addition to regular health insurance plans. It covers certain kinds of medical costs, like critical illness treatment, hospitalization, accident insurance, and dental or vision insurance. Based on these forms of coverage, here is a look at the types of supplemental health insurance:

• Critical illness insurance: If one is diagnosed with a critical condition, such as cancer, a heart attack, a stroke, or organ failure, this type of supplemental insurance pays a lump sum amount for diagnoses covered under the policy. The money can be used for ongoing care, medical costs, or other related expenses.
• Hospital indemnity insurance: This type of policy covers expenses for each day the policyholder is hospitalized and pays a fixed sum. It aids in reducing the out-of-pocket costs associated with hospital stays, operations, and other treatments.
• Accident insurance: If one is injured in an accident, this additional policy can pay for medical costs like ER visits, X-rays, or follow-up treatments and compensate for lost wages while one is recovering.

Benefits

• Enhanced financial protection: Coverage for costs that the primary health insurance plan might not fully cover helps enhance financial security when dealing with an unanticipated medical issue or expensive treatments.
• Customizable coverage: Supplemental health insurance policies frequently let people alter their coverage based on their unique needs. One can pick from various supplemental plans to address the areas where they believe they may be at higher risk or where one wants more financial protection.
• Access to additional health services: Additional health services not covered by the main insurance plan may be provided by some supplemental health insurance plans. Services like telemedicine, wellness initiatives, dental work, and vision care fall under this category.
• Financial assistance for non-medical expenses: Some supplemental health insurance plans cover non-medical costs associated with illness or accident. For instance, a hospital indemnity plan can offer a specific daily benefit that can be used to pay travel fees, child care, or other charges that arise when one is hospitalized.

Best providers
Here are a few well-known supplemental health insurance companies in the country that offer some of the best plans:

• Aflac: Aflac is a top provider of supplemental insurance, offering policies like accident insurance, critical illness insurance, and hospital indemnity insurance.
• Mutual of Omaha: Mutual of Omaha provides several extra health insurance policies, including Medicare supplement insurance, cancer insurance, heart and stroke insurance, and more.
• Humana: Known for its Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare supplement insurance, Humana also offers dental, vision, and other special requirements add-on plans.
• UnitedHealthcare: UnitedHealthcare provides a range of supplemental insurance products, such as critical illness insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, accident insurance, and more.
• Colonial Life: Colonial Life covers various insurance types, including accidents, critical illness, disability, and more. The provider is known for its customer-focused approach and straightforward claims procedure.
• Cigna: Cigna is a reputable insurance company that provides additional health insurance products like accident insurance, critical illness insurance, and hospital indemnity insurance, among others

Where can one buy a policy?
Here are a few typical avenues for buying supplemental health insurance:

• Insurance companies: Many insurance firms directly sell individual consumers supplemental health insurance products. One can contact insurance firms directly or visit their websites to learn more about the plans available.
• Policies sponsored by the employer: Some employers include supplemental health insurance policies in their benefits package for employees.
• Professional associations or membership groups: As a perk of such membership, several professional associations, trade unions, or membership groups provide additional health insurance coverage.
• Health insurance marketplaces: The Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges established health insurance marketplaces in the country. To view available plans, one can visit HealthCare.gov, the federal marketplace.
• Insurance brokers and agents: Insurance brokers and agents are qualified professionals who can guide one and offer the best plans catering to specific needs and budgets.

A supplemental plan is often acquired in addition to a primary health insurance plan. The combination of both policies can help one manage unforeseen medical expenses, ease the financial burden, and rest assured in an emergency. One should carefully read the terms and conditions of a supplemental health insurance policy to understand what is covered, the restrictions or exclusions, and the claims procedure. Further, one should explore all options and consult an expert to make an informed decision when buying insurance.