Primary vs. Secondary Insurance: What’s the Difference?

Double insurance coverage occurs when two health insurance policies cover an individual. This can happen if an individual has both employer-sponsor...Read more
Determining which health plan is primary is straightforward: “If you are covered under an employer-based plan, that is primary,” Mordo says. If you...Read more
Some people think in terms of “primary insurance vs. secondary insurance.” But the two types of insurance can complement one another. For example,...Read more
If you carry two health insurance plans and have deductibles with each plan, you’re responsible for paying both of them when you make a claim. In o...Read more
Yes, you can be covered by two health insurance plans. In some cases, each member of a couple might have health insurance through their employer. C...Read more
Typically not. If you have a deductible on one or both plans, you will need to pay those deductibles before your insurance reimburses you for care....Read more
What it means to pay primary/secondary
Your primary insurance plan pays first after you receive medical care, providing the coverage and cost sharing as specified in your policy. Your secondary insurance pays second, helping you address any remaining costs or providing coverage for services that your primary insurance plan excludes.
What Does Primary Insurance Mean? Primary insurance is a policy that pays for coverage first, even when the policyholder has other policies that cover the same risk. Those other policies will only be tapped when the primary policy has reached its financial limit. Primary policies are usually relevant to property, liability, or health coverage.
Medicare is primary when your employer has less than 20 employees. Medicare will pay first and then your group insurance will pay second. If this is your situation, it’s important to enroll in both parts of Original Medicare when you are first eligible for coverage at age 65. This rule applies to spouses on the same coverage as well.
Social Security's Primary Insurance Amount: What Is It?
Category: Primary Insurance Amount Isn't Necessarily The Amount You'll Collect Every Month