How Does Dual Health Insurance Work

Dual health insurance means a person carries two health insurance policies. Married people often face this type of situation when both work and receive benefits from employers. Dual health insurance companies must coordinate efforts to make sure claims are paid correctly and timely.

• Typically, dual health coverage occurs when both spouses receive health benefits from their place of employment. In such cases both insurance companies need to coordinate and determine which will be primary insurance plan. This means that the primary insurance company pays the medical claim first, usually covering most of the cost, then the secondary pays their part.

• The policy holders must contact both insurance companies to make them aware of each other. Both insurance companies go over the language and terms in each policy to determine which will become primary and which will be secondary. Both companies have to agree in order for claims to be processed smoothly.

• If either of the policy holders have a claim, the claim is first submitted to the primary insurance company. The primary insurance company must receive the itemized claim for processing. After the claim has been processed by the primary insurance company, the secondary insurance must receive a copy of the itemized claim also, along with the portion of the claim that was paid by the primary insurance company. 

• Mistakes can happen easily when dealing with dual health insurance. Policy holder’s should keep all records of claims paid in case it is needed.