Can I have two health insurance plans in California?
Asked by: Dr. Oliver Beahan | Last update: August 6, 2025Score: 4.9/5 (61 votes)
Can I have two health insurance plans at the same time?
Can I have 2 health insurance plans at the same time? Yes. A process called coordination of benefits determines which insurance plan will pay first. Your primary plan will pay for the health claim first, paying the costs up to the plan's coverage limits, and then your second plan will kick in.
Do you still pay a copay if you have two insurances?
In most cases their secondary policy will pick up the copay left from the primary insurance. There are some cases where the secondary policy also has a copay and those patients may end up with a copay applied after both insurances process the claim.
How does it work if you have primary and secondary insurance?
The insurance that pays first (primary payer) pays up to the limits of its coverage. The insurance that pays second (secondary payer) only pays if there are costs the primary insurance didn't cover.
Can I have my own health insurance and be on my parents at the same time?
Yes, you can have both coverages (``dual coverage'') but be aware that your coverage you have through your work is your primary and your parent's coverage is your secondary.
Revisiting Deductibles, Coinsurance, and Max out of Pocket...And COPAYS
Can I stay on my parents' insurance if I have my own insurance?
Can I stay on my parent's policy? If you are under age 26, yes. Eligibility for health benefits through your own job does not make you ineligible to be covered as a dependent on your parent's policy up to the age of 26.
Can you have Medi-Cal and private insurance at the same time?
Even if you have other health coverage such as health insurance from your work, you may still qualify for Medi-Cal. If you qualify, Medi-Cal will cover allowable costs not paid by your primary insurance. Under federal law, Medi-Cal beneficiaries' private health insurance must be billed first before billing Medi-Cal.
Can I have a high deductible health plan and a secondary insurance?
Other coverage that is allowed in addition to an HDHP
The IRS does allow you to have some types of coverage in addition to your HDHP, without jeopardizing your eligibility to contribute money to your HSA.
What is double insurance?
Double insurance refers to the method of getting insurance of same subject matter with more than one insurer or with same insurer under different policies. This means that one can get insurance policies on a subject matter more than its value. Double insurance is possible in all types of insurance contracts.
Do you have to pay deductible if you have secondary insurance?
The other plan can pick up the tab for anything not covered, but it won't pay anything toward the primary plan's deductible. If both plans have deductibles, you'll have to pay both before coverage kicks in. You don't get to choose which health plan is primary, meaning the one that pays first.
What are the top 5 health insurance companies in California?
Currently, depending on the market segment you're looking at, Kaiser, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield of California, Health Net, Aetna, United (group), and AARP (Senior) are the main carriers in California.
Which health insurance company denies the most claims?
According to the analysis, AvMed and UnitedHealthcare tied for the highest denial rate, with both companies denying about a third of in-network claims for plans sold on the Marketplace in 2023, respectively.
What happens to my younger wife when I go on Medicare?
Medicare is individual insurance, so spouses cannot be on the same Medicare plan together. Now, if your spouse is eligible for Medicare, then he or she can get their own Medicare plan.
What is the difference between a PPO and a HMO?
HMOs (health maintenance organizations) are typically cheaper than PPOs, but they tend to have smaller networks. You need to see your primary care physician before getting a referral to a specialist. PPOs (preferred provider organizations) are usually more expensive.
Can I be on my husband's insurance and my own?
Yes, you can. If you already have health insurance, you can also opt to go on your spouse's as a form of secondary insurance, says Gross. Your primary insurance will pay its share of your medical costs first.
What are the coordination of benefits rules?
“Coordination of benefits” or “COB” means a provision establishing an order in which plans pay their claims, and permitting secondary plans to reduce their benefits so that the combined benefits of all plans do not exceed total allowable expenses.
Are there benefits to having two health insurance plans?
There are some situations where having two health insurance plans can help you reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. For example, if you have two health insurance plans that cover different areas of your medical needs, then one policy may cover one area while another policy covers the other area.
Can you legally be double insured?
Having dual coverage is perfectly legal. But you must coordinate your two policies correctly to ensure you cover your medical expenses compliantly. If you're new to dual insurance, you've come to the right place!
What are the effects of double insurance?
Overlapping coverage: Both plans provide similar coverage, and the benefits largely overlap. The services covered by both plans are redundant, and you are not likely to use the additional services provided by the second plan. As a result, having two plans in such cases results in unnecessary premium expenses.
What happens if you have primary and secondary health insurance?
Your primary plan processes the insurance claim first and covers the bill up to its coverage limits. If your primary insurance is unable to cover the entire claim, your secondary insurance may cover all or a portion of the remaining costs.
Who should avoid a high deductible health plan?
While these types of plans can be beneficial to those who are relatively healthy, they can be very expensive for those who have chronic conditions or who experience a medical crisis. It's important to carefully consider your expected medical expenses before choosing to participate in a high deductible health care plan.
Can I have a PPO and HDHP at the same time?
The truth is that you can get a PPO plan that's also an HDHP and, therefore, eligible for an HSA.
Can you have two health insurances Covered California?
In California, qualified group health insurance plans co-ordinate benefits with each other. This means that you can get coverage under your health plan and additional sharing of claims cost under your spouse's group plan if you are enrolled on both.
Will secondary pay if primary denies?
If your primary insurance denies coverage, secondary insurance may or may not pay some part of the cost, depending on the insurance. If you do not have primary insurance, your secondary insurance may make little or no payment for your health care costs.
What disqualifies you from Medi-Cal?
To qualify, you must: Meet the medical requirements of Social Security's definition of disability. Be working and earning income (this can be part-time work). Have countable income less than 250% of the federal poverty level (in 2024, this equates to $3,158/mo.