What Is Primary & Secondary Health Care?
Health care coverage provides a set of medical benefits known as an insurance plan to consumers to obtain health care services. You can be covered by more than one insurance plan.
Example
For example, if you receive health care coverage from your employer and your spouse also receives health care coverage from his or her employer, both of you are covered by two insurance plans.
Explanation
The insurance plan you receive from your employer is your primary health care coverage. The plan your spouse receives from her employer provides coverage to you as a dependent and is your secondary health care coverage.
Significance
The two designations--primary and secondary--are meant to prevent both insurance providers from paying the same medical expenses, so medical bills do not get paid twice.
Benefits
The benefit of having primary and secondary health care coverage is that you are less likely to have to pay out-of-pocket for medical services.
Rationale
When you reach your benefit limit on your primary health care coverage, your secondary coverage kicks in.
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