Best Supplemental Health Insurance Plans in 2021
Supplemental health insurance is an additional plan you can purchase to offset potential out-of-pocket medical costs that your regular insurance does not cover. Various supplemental plans are available depending on your needs, including accident, dental, and critical illness insurance. The best overall supplemental health insurance includes United Healthcare.
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Best Supplemental Health Insurance Plans in 2021
Picking a health insurance plan can be daunting, especially with ever-increasing deductibles, co-payments, and coinsurance. It's estimated that 60 percent of bankruptcies in the United States are due to medical events. Even with insurance, out-of-pocket costs associated with your medical needs can add up very quickly.
One option to offset these costs is to look for a supplemental health insurance plan. These plans are purchased to help cover the additional costs that some insurance plans won't cover, like dental visits, eye exams, or hospital visits. We looked at the different types of supplemental plans to help you determine which is the best for you:
- Best Overall: United Healthcare
- Best Coverage: Aetna
- Best for Medicare Plans: Mutual of Omaha
- Best for Accidents: Combined Insurance Company of America
- Best for Critical Illnesses: Guardian Life
- Best for Dental Coverage: MetLife
United Healthcare: Best Overall
United Healthcare offers a wide range of supplemental plans that can fit a variety of needs. Their plans are available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, providing nationwide coverage. Many companies only offer Medigap coverage for those currently on a Medicare insurance plan. Still, United Healthcare supplies other plans as well:
- Accident
- Critical illness
- Dental
- Hospital and doctor fixed indemnity
- Hospitalization
- Vision
With United Healthcare, you can bundle plans as well to fit your specific health insurance needs. Plans are available for individuals, families, and employers to purchase. While each specific supplemental plan varies in price, they are all relatively affordable, with the lowest estimated monthly premium at $8.00. The cost will vary depending on your age and current health condition.
Their website has many tools to help you determine the right insurance plan for you and estimate the cost. In addition, they have an app you can download to manage your healthcare needs on the go. Overall, United Healthcare provides extensive health coverage, affordable costs, and considerable customer assistance for supplemental health insurance plans.
Aetna: Best Coverage
Aetna provides much coverage with its supplemental health insurance plans. Unlike many health insurance companies, Aetna offers both Medigap and supplemental plans for regular health insurance. The company gives you cash payments to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses that you may face. Because they send cash directly to you, you can use this money for everyday expenses, like grocery or utility bills.
If you are a full-time employee, Aetna offers accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity plans. On the other hand, if you don't qualify for the above benefits, the company has supplemental plans to help you with your needs. These include:
- Dental and vision: helps to cover dental and vision expenses that are not always available through your employer
- Fixed benefits: fixed cash payments to help cover prescription, hospital, or other everyday costs
- Health plans: a PPO (preferred provider organization) that meets minimum essential requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)
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Mutual of Omaha: Best for Medicare Plans
People who are on a Medicare Plan are often in search of a supplemental health insurance plan. Although Medicare covers much of medical expenses, there are some benefits not included in original Medicare. Private health insurance companies often sell supplemental plans known as 'Medigap.' We found that Mutual of Omaha offers the best supplemental Medicare plans.
Mutual of Omaha is a top-rated health insurance company and has excellent customer reviews. They pay 98 percent of claims within 12 hours, so you never have to worry about the status of your claim. Their three most popular Medigap plans are Plan F, G, and N.
Popular Medigap Plans- Mutual of Omaha
| Medigap Plan | Plan F | Plan G | Plan N |
|---|---|---|---|
Basic Benefits | yes | yes | after copay |
Skilled Nursing Facility Coinsurance | yes | yes | yes |
Medicare Part A Deductible | yes | yes | yes |
Medicare Part B Deductible | yes | no | no |
Medicare Part B Excess Charge | yes | yes | no |
Foreign Travel Emergency | yes | yes | yes |
Source: Mutual of Omaha
Combined Insurance Company of America: Best for Accidents
Accident health insurance helps to pay medical costs associated with accidents or injuries. This can be beneficial for those with high-deductible plans, as the cash benefits can cover this expense. Visits to an emergency room can be expensive, averaging at $2,200, when accident insurance can be of use.
The best supplemental accident plan we found was through the Combined Insurance Company of America. Their accident plans provide coverage 24/7, whether at work or home, for yourself, your spouse, and your children. Your cash benefits are given directly to you, not the facility treating you, so you can use the money as you choose. With an individual policy, you can expect to receive payments of up to:
- $800 for qualifying hospital admissions
- $200 a day for hospital stays
- $100 for an accident-related ER visit
- $100,000 for accidental loss of life
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Guardian Life: Best for Critical Illnesses
Severe and critical illnesses can become a substantial medical expense for an individual or a family. With frequent hospital visits and expensive medications, this can be a significant source of debt to someone. Critical illness insurance plans can be used to help offset these costs. Plans usually come in the form of a lump sum or as additional benefits to your current plan.
The best critical illness insurance that we found was through Guardian Life. They cover over 30 different critical illnesses, including cancer, Parkinson's disease, and heart attacks. There are no waiting periods before receiving your benefits, providing long-term coverage. Guardian Life also offers you money for a first and second diagnosis. You can purchase it directly from their website or through your employer.
MetLife: Best for Dental Coverage
Dental insurance is a common supplemental plan that people purchase. The expenses of dental exams and procedures are not often covered under Medicare, Medicaid, and some marketplace insurance plans. Many employers will offer this coverage option and pay for a portion of the premiums. Suppose you are unemployed or not provided through your job. In that case, you can purchase the plan directly from private health insurance companies.
The best supplemental dental coverage that we found was through MetLife, which has the most extensive dental provider network. They offer a variety of dental plans, including PPO, take-along dental, and HMO/managed care. You can visit a provider either in or out of the network. Above all, most cleanings and exams are 100% covered through MetLife.
Bottom Line
Supplemental health insurance is a typical purchase for people with Medicaid, Medicare, or a high-deductible health insurance plan. It is often used for dental services, accidents, and critical illnesses to save money. Many plans give the cash benefits directly to you, allowing you to use the funds for medical or everyday expenses that you face. Make sure to do your research to find the best plan for your health needs.
If none of the above plans seem like the perfect fit for you, we may have a solution. Mira offers low-cost urgent care visits, 80% over 1,000 different prescription medications, and same-day lab testing for as low as $45 per month. Sign up for Mira and start saving today.
Talor graduated from Penn State University with a B.S. in Biobehavioral Health, and minors in Spanish and Diversity & Inclusion in May of 2022. She has a passion for health equity and diversity in health. In the future, Talor hopes to work in public health policy reform to help eliminate health disparities. She enjoys reading, cooking, and listening to podcasts in her free time.
