Insurance Benefits of Having 2 Health Insurance Plans How Does Having More Than One Health Plan Work? By Bobbie Sage Bobbie Sage Bobbie Sage is an insurance expert for The Balance. She has been involved in the insurance industry since 2001, including work as an agent. Sage attended college at Indiana University South Bend, and received her property and casualty insurance license from the Professional Training Institute of Mishawaka, Indiana. learn about our editorial policies Updated on October 1, 2022 Reviewed by Samantha Silberstein Fact checked by David Rubin In This Article View All In This Article What Is Coordination of Benefits? How Having Two Health Plans Works Should You Keep Two Health Insurance Plans? Understanding Coordination of Benefits System Medicare Combined With a Group Plan Reasonable and Customary Costs You May Still Need To Pay Some Costs Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Photo: The Balance / Bailey Mariner Having access to two health plans can be good when making health care claims. Having two health plans can increase how much coverage you get. You can save money on your health care costs through what's known as the "coordination of benefits" provision. Here's what you need to know about using two health care plans and how it works. Key Takeaways Having access to two health plans can increase how much coverage and save money on your health care costs through the "coordination of benefits" provision.When an insured person has two health plans, one is the main plan, and the other is the second plan.In there's a claim, the primary health plan pays out first, while the second plan pays some or all of the costs the first plan didn't pay.If you and your spouse or partner both have a health care plan at work, and your children are covered on both plans, the second plan can pay some of the costs the first plan didn't. What Is Coordination of Benefits? When a person is covered by two health plans, coordination of benefits is the process the insurance companies use to decide which plan will pay first and what the second plan will pay after the first plan has paid. As an example, if your spouse or partner has a health care plan at work, and you have access to one through work as well, your children could have coverage through both plans. Once the main plan pays, rather than having to pay the rest, you could see the second plan paying some of what you would have had to pay if you didn't have it. You can use both plans to get the most out of your children's health care. Note In some cases, one plan may provide better care in one area, like mental health coverage. The other plan may offer better coverage in some other area. You can get the best of two health plans when you combine care. How Having Two Health Plans Works When an insured person has two health plans, one is the main plan, and the other is the second one. In the event of a claim, the primary health plan pays out first. The second one kicks in to pay some or all of the costs the first plan didn't pick up. Some of the health care costs to consider when deciding how to manage your health care plans are outlined below. Deductible Your deductible is the amount you need to pay out of pocket each year before your insurance covers any of your medical costs, including appointments and prescriptions. For example, your insurance plan might have a $2,000 annual deductible, which means you need to cover the first $2,000 in costs each year before your insurance covers any expenses. Copay A copay—short for copayment—is an amount you pay at the time of each doctor’s appointment. Typically it's a small fee, such as $15 or $25 for your primary doctor. However, the copay might be higher for a specialist or other service. Coinsurance Coinsurance is a set percentage of the cost of service that you must share in paying. For example, your insurance provider might pay 80% of the cost of a service, while you'd be responsible for 20%. Coinsurance costs can be expensive if you or a family member need extensive care, such as a hospital stay or surgery. Should You Keep Two Health Care Plans? If you have access to two health care plans, you could end up paying less money out of your own pocket for expenses the first plan doesn't cover. For example, if your first plan has a deductible or copay, the second plan may pay for that. Does a person with two health care plans get double benefits? Not exactly. Having two health plans does help cover any health care costs better through the coordination of benefits provision. If you are thinking you will save money on health insurance by only having one plan, think about how combining care works and what health care costs you have before signing a health insurance waiver and giving up a second plan. If your plan through your own job is free, and your partner can add you to their plan for a low cost, you should keep both plans. Note Here's how a person may have two health care plans: A child's parents each have access to a health plan at work. Children can be covered under both plans if the parents decide to include them. Married couples or domestic partners who each have access to a health plan through their job may put each other on their plans. Understanding Coordination of Benefits System The health plan coordination of benefits system is used to ensure both health plans pay their fair share. When both health plans combine coverage in the right way, you can avoid a duplication of benefits while still getting the health care to which you're entitled. Health plans combine benefits by looking at which health plan is the patient's main plan and which one is the backup plan. There are guidelines set forth by the state and health plan providers that help the patient's health plans decide which health care plan is the main plan and which is the second plan. Note If you have two health plans, you may be asked to declare which one you want to name as your main plan. Do your research to decide which plan will work better as your main plan. Once you've named one plan as your first plan, that plan will pay what is required without looking at what the second plan covers. Once the main plan has paid the costs it has to pay, the second plan will be used. Your second health plan, unlike your first plan, can look at what health care service was provided to you by the main plan. The health care costs that are still due will then be looked at for payment under the second health care plan. Medicare Combined With a Group Plan If you’re 65 or older, have group health plan coverage based on your or your spouse's current employer, and it has 20 or more employees, the group plan will pay first. If they have less than 20 employees, Medicare will kick in first. Reasonable and Customary Costs There are some rules that health plan providers follow that could cause a person covered by two plans to still have to pay for some health care costs. One such area is the "reasonable and customary" amount. Most health plans will only cover costs that are reasonable and customary. In other words, the health plan provider will not pay for any services or supplies that are being billed at a cost that is more than what is the usual charge for the treatment in the area where the treatment takes place. You May Still Need To Pay Some Costs Once your main plan pays the reasonable and customary amount on a health care service, there may still be a balance due. This could happen if the health care provider was charging more than what the main plan felt was reasonable and customary. The second plan does not have to pay the amount the first plan did not pay if the charge is deemed out of the normal limit. The insured person could still end up paying out-of-pocket. This could still happen even if there are two health plans. What's more, neither health care plan will cover the cost of a service that is not covered under their health care plans. If both plans do not cover a certain test, for example, the second one doesn't have to pay after the first one denies the expense. People with more than one health care plan should discuss with their health plan providers how combining plans will work with their plans. This way, they can see what health care coverage they can expect. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) If you have two insurances, will you have a copay? If you have two health insurance plans, the second may pick up any copayments or additional costs that were not covered by your primary insurance. Your copay may or may not be covered. So, be sure to check with each of your insurance plans. Will I lose my Medicaid when I am eligible for Medicare? No, Medicaid and Medicare work together well, and between the two, most of your costs should be completely covered. Some states even offer Medicaid-Medicare plans that offer more coverage options. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. National Association of Insurance Commissioners. "Using Your Health Plan," Page 17. Nebraska.gov. "Title 210 - Nebraska Department of Insurance: Chapter 39 - Coordination of Benefits Regulation," Pages 24-26. Nebraska.gov. "Title 210 - Nebraska Department of Insurance: Chapter 39 - Coordination of Benefits Regulation," Pages 14, 18. Nebraska.gov. "Title 210 - Nebraska Department of Insurance: Chapter 39 - Coordination of Benefits Regulation," Page 1. Nebraska.gov. "Title 210 - Nebraska Department of Insurance: Chapter 39 - Coordination of Benefits Regulation," Page 17. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "Medicare & Other Health Benefits: Your Guide to Who Pays First," Pages 6, 12-13. New York State. "Usual and Customary or Reasonable Fees for Health Insurance Reimbursements." National Association of Insurance Commissioners. "Coordination of Benefits Model Regulation," Pages 120–1-120–2. Medicare. "Medicaid."