| Health insurance is getting more and more | | | | |
| expensive. As the cost of medical care | | | | Many people who use Medicare also take out a |
| rises, insurance companies are cutting out | | | | supplemental insurance policy to cover the |
| special coverages that they carry. It's | | | | things that are left out. Medicare is a good |
| getting tougher for consumers to find | | | | system, but its coverage is quite limited. |
| coverage for special health conditions or | | | | |
| unforeseen expenses. | | | | Buying Supplemental Health Insurance. |
| | | | |
| This is where supplemental health insurance | | | | Your health insurance company may offer |
| comes into play. Supplemental coverage | | | | supplemental insurance packages, but you do |
| includes the extras that you purchase | | | | not have to use their services. You can take |
| separately, in addition to your regular | | | | out a supplemental policy with a different |
| health insurance policy. You can use | | | | company. |
| supplemental health insurance to fill in the | | | | |
| gaps of your current health insurance policy. | | | | Before you decide to take out a supplemental |
| | | | health insurance policy, you should think |
| What Kinds Of Things Can Supplemental Health | | | | about your risk factors. If you don't feel |
| Insurance Cover? | | | | like you need the insurance, it would be a |
| | | | better deal to just stick to your regular |
| Supplemental health insurance coverage varies | | | | plan. |
| from state to state. Some of the things | | | | |
| supplemental coverage might be used for | | | | If something unexpected happens, can you |
| include: | | | | cover it with your savings? If you have |
| | | | another plan for this kind of thing, |
| - Disease specific insurance. You can get | | | | supplemental health insurance may be |
| coverage for certain specific diseases that | | | | unnecessary for you. |
| are not usually covered. One such coverage | | | | |
| option is cancer insurance. | | | | For example, if you anticipate having major |
| | | | dental work done, you might choose to get |
| - Critical illness insurance. This is used | | | | supplemental insurance that covers dental. |
| in the event that an individual has to have | | | | If there is a history of cancer or other |
| heart surgery, or incurs medical expenses | | | | serious illnesses in your family, you may |
| related to a stroke. These unforeseen | | | | want to get supplemental insurance for that. |
| expenses are often not covered under | | | | |
| traditional plans. | | | | Here's something to help you decide: if you |
| | | | were confined to a hospital bed for a couple |
| - Disability insurance due to illness. An | | | | of weeks, would it be a terrible financial |
| extended illness may cause other problems | | | | burden to you? If you aren't in a financial |
| that require check ups or treatment. | | | | situation that would cover a long hospital |
| | | | stay, it might be worth your while to take |
| - Hospital emergency recover. In case you | | | | out an extra policy. |
| have to make an unexpected visit to the | | | | |
| hospital and have to continue out-patient | | | | There is no one-size-fits-all insurance plan |
| treatment. Many insurance plans offer very | | | | for everybody, and that's why supplemental |
| limited coverage in this case. | | | | health insurance exists. You can use it to |
| | | | fill the gaps and make sure you're fully |
| - Accidental death and dismemberment. You | | | | covered. |
| never know what might happen. You can use | | | | |
| supplemental insurance to cover or add to the | | | | This can be a pain, because you have to |
| coverage in case something terrible and | | | | constantly keep track of which company |
| unexpected happens. | | | | insures which situation. But, it can also |
| | | | save you money. You may be able to go with a |
| - Dental insurance. Employer-offered group | | | | cheaper primary insurance policy, and then |
| plans often do not cover dental coverage. | | | | get the extras you need with supplemental |
| Dental is expensive, so lots of companies | | | | insurance. |
| have stopped carrying it. | | | | |