Supplemental insurance is an additional insurance policy that is taken to cover expenses that are not covered under the minimum primary insurance policy. Supplemental insurance was created to work side by side with other forms of health insurance policies to ensure costs not contemplated in these policies. Supplemental policies are really just insurance you get to cover your existing insurance.
The benefits of supplemental insurance are paid directly to the policyholder as opposed to other insurance policies that are paid to the service providers. This is because supplemental policies sometimes cover out of pocket expenses for the insured. The amount of the benefit paid and how it will be paid will however depend on the terms of the policy. The rising cost of healthcare services and the unpredictable nature of the health makes having a supplemental insurance plan important.
Supplemental insurance for children
As with adults, accidents and critical illnesses can also happen to children. Due to the fact that expenses not covered under the general policy can come up at any age, having supplemental health insurance for your child could come in handy. It will complement whatever health insurance you already have for your child.
There are various types of supplementary insurance policies available. Examples are; hospital insurance, accident insurance, fixed indemnity insurance, disability insurance, long term care insurance, critical illness insurance, student health insurance, and many others.
Factors to consider in taking out a supplemental plan for your child
To determine if your child needs supplemental insurance and the type of supplemental insurance, there are different factors you have to consider. These factors enable you to make the decision for your child. The first factor you should consider is the type of general insurance policy you have already taken on behalf of your child. It is necessary that you examine the policy of your child’s primary plan to determine the areas that are not covered by the policy. The general plan may cover benefits you are not aware of. This will help you figure out what type of supplemental policy to take for your child.
Another factor to be considered is the household income and socio-economic status of the family – this is usually measured by a combination of the education, occupation, and income of the family. This is a major factor because it shows the family’s level of access to resources. You’ll need to determine how much you can afford to pay for supplementary insurance each month as premium and how much you can spare for out of pocket expenses if any unforeseen medical condition or accident happens.
The health status of your child is another factor to be considered. You’ll need to take into consideration how often you take the child to visit a doctor and whether or not your child has any condition that requires periodic treatments or periodic visits to the doctor. It is also important that you consider the family medical history. Knowing this medical history helps you foresee possible medical challenges that your child could encounter. Thus, it will help you know what type of supplementary insurance coverage to get.
Choosing the appropriate plan for your child
There are various supplementary insurance policy plans available. In choosing the right supplementary plan, you need to compare different options available to enable you to pick the best option for your child. The availability of various policy plans makes it important for you to go through the policy to ensure that the right policy to be chosen or your child. These are some tips to help you choose the best supplementary plan for your child.
Sufficient policy coverage
The policy coverage is the amount of risk covered by the insurance policy. The health risks, family history, and other changes that might occur in your child’s life need to be put into consideration in deciding on the right supplemental policy for your child. Supplemental insurance tends to be more specific than general insurance. It usually covers a particular area. Thus, you will need to ensure that the policy you are taking out for your child sufficiently covers whatever you need it to cover.
Waiting period clause
The waiting period is the period of time the policyholder must wait before the benefit can become payable to the policyholder. Waiting periods for ancillary covers such as supplemental health insurance are usually set by the insurers. Thus, the waiting period will vary from one provider to the other. You will need to check the waiting period clause because it is important that you pick a plan with a minimal waiting period.
Lifetime renewability
Some insurance policies have a cut-off age for renewal. If you pick a supplemental insurance policy plan with a cut-off renewal clause, the implication is that after a certain age, your child will not be able to renew the policy and will need to buy another policy. You need to select a plan with a lifetime renewability cover. Generally, health tends to deteriorate with age. Your child needs to be able to avail of the benefits of the insurance at any time of need because; your child will require supplemental insurance the most during the later years of life.
How to buy supplementary health insurance for your child
Supplementary insurance is bought the same way any other type of primary insurance is bought. It can be bought directly from an insurance company, through a private market place or licensed agents. You can contact an insurer directly or get an insurance broker to help you get the best supplementary policy plans. Once you get the right plan for your child, get a quote from the company or companies. Be sure to ask questions if you have areas in the policy that you need clarification on.
Conclusion
Securing a supplemental insurance policy for your child should be done with utmost care because your child will require it for a long period of time. As with all forms of insurance policies, it is important that you research the types available and the different providers available before paying for it. Research helps you find a suitable supplementary plan that covers your specific needs which aren’t provided for in your child’s primary policy.
you’re exploring health insurance or looking for alternative healthcare plans, Life Insurance, or supplemental insurance plans feel free to reach out to our professional agents and see what program or programs might be right for you, that can help you through this time. Call Vivna, Inc. today to learn more here: 866.793.2301