What is a tertiary insurance policy?

Asked by: Dr. Makenna Corkery DVM  |  Last update: December 28, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (48 votes)

The term “Tertiary” itself means to be third in order, stage or level. Tertiary in the realm of insurance would refer to a policy or benefits that are not primary. Rather, it would include a policy or benefits that will respond after primary and secondary coverage/benefits are exhausted.

What does tertiary insurance mean?

In an insurance policy, a tertiary beneficiary receives benefits after the primary and secondary beneficiaries have received their payouts. In this case, the third one would receive the life insurance proceeds. Therefore, this third receptor's name – a person or an organization – would have to appear in the policy.

What is a tertiary life insurance policy?

Tertiary beneficiary — Finally, the beneficiary next in line (should you choose to name one), is the tertiary beneficiary. This person or entity will receive the life insurance policy proceeds in the event that both the primary and the secondary beneficiaries are unable to do so.

What are tertiary health insurance providers?

What is a Tertiary Provider? If a Health Plan member requires specialty care or services not available through our in-plan network of providers, then his/her physician may refer them to one of The Health Plan's participating tertiary providers.

What is the tertiary function of insurance?

Therefore, the main function of insurance companies is to provide services rather than producing goods, which is why they are classified as a tertiary industry.

Why Healthcare Costs Are So High in America

17 related questions found

What is a tertiary beneficiary?

What is a tertiary beneficiary? A tertiary beneficiary is another term for a third beneficiary who would be paid as default in the event the primary and secondary beneficiaries have died or do not qualify per specific instructions written.

What are the three branches of insurance?

Although there are many insurance policy types, some of the most common are life, health, homeowners, and auto.

What does tertiary mean in healthcare?

Tertiary care is specialized care delivered in a hospital or similar care setting. It usually requires a referral from a primary or secondary care provider, and it is typically only available at specialized medical centers. Tertiary care can include a range of procedures from cancer treatment to organ transplantation.

Which is an example of a tertiary health care provider?

They also provide specialty care such as neurology, cardiology, rheumatology, dermatology, and oncology. Other examples of tertiary care include burn treatment, plastic surgery, and advanced neonatal care.

Can Medicare be a tertiary insurance?

There are times when Medicare becomes the tertiary or third payer. This happens when a beneficiary has more than one primary insurer to Medicare. It is the primary payer(s) responsibility to pay the claim first. The primary insurers must process the claim in accordance with the coverage provisions of its contract.

What are the three 3 main types of insurance?

Then we examine in greater detail the three most important types of insurance: property, liability, and life.

What is a tertiary agent?

Tertiary agency of socialisation is an agent which has no pre-defined authority, the need for its elements arises almost simultaneously in case of children.

What are the 3 main types of life insurance?

  • Term life insurance. Term life insurance is generally more affordable than permanent life insurance. ...
  • Whole life insurance. ...
  • Universal life insurance.

What is a 3 tier insurance plan?

3 Network Tiers

The deductible, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximums are much lower when compared with out-of-network providers. Tier 3 — Out-of-network providers: You can use any out-of-network provider or facility; however, benefits are paid at a lower level, which means you can expect to pay more.

Can you be covered by three health insurance plans?

For example, if you get surgery, you will choose one plan to pay for this up to its coverage limits. Once this insurer has paid the amount, the remaining bill goes to your second or third insurance, which will then cover part of or all of the remaining costs, again up to its coverage limit.

What are the two main types of health insurance?

Health care coverage is often grouped into two general categories: private and public.

What is a tertiary insurance provider?

A tertiary payer is an insurance company that provides coverage to the patient after the primary and secondary payers have paid their portions of the medical bill.

What is the primary goal of tertiary care?

Tertiary care: The tertiary care level is for extremely specialized care over a short or extended period involving complex and advanced equipment, treatment or procedures, often for severe or life-threatening conditions.

What are the tertiary care services?

Tertiary care is highly specialist treatment, such as:
  • neurosurgery.
  • transplants.
  • plastic surgery.
  • secure forensic mental health services.

Which type of healthcare service is an example of tertiary care?

Some examples of the kinds of services and procedures offered in tertiary care include: Complex treatments and procedures. Burn treatments. Heart surgery and other complicated surgeries.

What comes before tertiary?

There's an interesting alternate system for counting first, second, third, etc. up to tenth. It's primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary, quinary, senary, septenary, octonary, nonary, and denary. There's also a word for twelfth, duodenary, though that — along with all the words after tertiary — is rarely used.

Is rehab tertiary care?

One area of tertiary practice that's fairly well-known is substance abuse rehabilitation.

What are the three C's of insurance?

A number of these factors fall under what the Surety industry calls “The Three C's”; Character, Capacity, and Capital. All three of these are important to the underwriting process. The principal needs to exhibit the Character, Capacity, and Capital to qualify for surety credit.

What are the three types of insurance everyone should have?

The Bottom Line

There are many types of insurance available, but there are some which top the charts in terms of importance. Home or property insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, health insurance, and automobile insurance are five types that everyone should have.

What are the three D's of insurance?

What is Delay, Deny, and Defend?
  • Delay: Delay is the first of the three D's. A claim is submitted, and the games begin. ...
  • Deny: Once delay fails, the next step is implementing the second D: Deny. ...
  • Defend: If all else fails, the insurance company will bring out the third D: Defend.