Can you have benefits from two employers?

Asked by: Tess Rohan Jr.  |  Last update: June 18, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (74 votes)

Yes, you can have multiple health insurance plans from different employers. But you have to decide whether having dual coverage is worth it. Dual coverage can mean higher upfront health insurance costs but may save out-of-pocket costs for members, including those who receive many health care services.

Can I have health insurance from two different employers?

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!

Can I have benefits at two jobs?

Two full time jobs do not equate to twice the benefits. Many insurance companies have in place controls to prevent overlapping payments for claims with another insurer. So, you could be supporting (paying for) two benefit packages that might refuse to pay more than either package limits.

Is there a penalty for having two health insurance plans?

Remember that the combined coverage of your plans cannot exceed 100 percent of your out-of-pocket costs. If you want to get paid for going to the doctor, that will not happen even if you have multiple policies. Double premium & deductible payments: You will still be responsible for two premiums and two deductibles.

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.

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Is it worth having two health insurances?

Having multiple health insurance plans can expand your healthcare options and minimize costs. However, the premium and administrative costs can be prohibitive, and two plans might only end up providing redundant coverage.

What is the coordination of benefits rule?

“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.

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.

What is the best health insurance company to go with?

Best Health Insurance Companies for 2025
  • Best Overall and Best for Self-Employed: Kaiser Permanente.
  • Best Widely Available Plans: UnitedHealthcare.
  • Best for Low Complaints and Best for Chronic Conditions: Aetna.
  • Most Affordable: Molina Healthcare.

Do you have to tell your employer if you have two jobs?

Legally, no requirement mandates an employee to reveal their secondary job to their primary employer. The reason you would have to is if you signed an employment clause that mentioned it. Being transparent can help avoid potential conflicts of interest or work-overlap issues that might arise.

Can you offer benefits to one employee and not another?

In summary, it is not necessary under federal laws to give equal benefits to all employees, but an employer should base benefit eligibility on tenure, full- or part-time status, exempt/nonexempt status, job group or even department. An employer must exercise due diligence to ensure its benefits are not discriminatory.

Can I have my own health insurance and be on my parents at the same time?

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 get benefits from two jobs?

different benefits

Working for a different company could give you access to perks your main gig doesn't provide. For example, you might get an employee discount at stores if you work for a grocery chain warehouse. Some part-time roles offer paid time off (PTO) and medical benefits.

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.

Can I work for multiple insurance companies at the same time?

Unlike captive insurance agents, independent insurance agents are not contracted to work with one single company, and they can sell policies from multiple insurance companies.

How does having 2 insurances work?

The way it works is that one plan is designated as primary insurance and the other as secondary. A claim goes first to the primary insurance plan, which pays medical bills the way it normally would. It is only after the primary insurer pays the claim that it gets submitted to the secondary plan.

Who are dual insurance?

DUAL is an MGA, or managing general agent. Our role is to underwrite insurance policies on behalf of insurers, who delegate underwriting authority to us. Insurers will specify a limit we can underwrite to across our different classes, according to their risk appetite.

What is double recovery in insurance?

Double Recovery: When someone receives more compensation than they are entitled to for a single loss or injury. This can happen when a court awards damages twice for the same loss, or when someone receives more compensation than the maximum amount they are allowed to receive for their loss.

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.

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.

How do you determine which insurance is primary and which is secondary?

The insurance that pays first is called the primary payer. The primary payer pays up to the limits of its coverage. The insurance that pays second is called the secondary payer. The secondary payer only pays if there are costs the primary insurer didn't cover.

How to switch primary and secondary insurance?

To switch from primary to secondary insurance, contact your insurance providers and inform them of your decision. You may need to go through a specific enrollment period or provide documentation to verify your eligibility.

What is the birthday rule?

The rule requires that the parent whose birthday comes first in the calendar year would cover the cost of delivering the new baby regardless of whether one parent has better health coverage for a newborn than the other.

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.