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Other Health-Related Policies Used With Florida Health Insurance

Other Health-Related Policies

Supplemental Health Insurance

These policies provide coverage beyond, or in addition to, what your basic policy provides. You should use these policies as supplements, rather than substitutes, for basic medical insurance. Some policies include elimination periods, which means companies will pay benefits only after you stay in the hospital for a specified number of days.

Hospital confinement indemnity insurance

These policies pay a mixed amount or indemnity for each day, week or month you stay in a hospital. Such policies pay a flat amount for benefits.

Disability income insurance

These policies pay a weekly or monthly income for a specific period if you suffer a disability and cannot continue or obtain work. The disability may involve sickness, injury or a combination of the two. Most disability insurance plans coordinate with Social Security benefits and workers' compensation to eliminate duplication of coverage.

You may select a disability policy that includes an elimination period, or length of time that you must wait after a covered illness begins, before receiving benefits. The longer the elimination period, the lower your premium. Premiums may also vary depending upon your occupation (and the risks involved) and your age. For example, a high-rise construction worker would likely pay higher premiums than a florist.

When buying a disability policy, you should ind out the company's definition of a disability and the requirements that must be met. Individual and group disability income policies must provide coverage for a policyholder or eligible dependent who becomes disabled. This coverage applies during the first 12 months of the disability, but only if the person can no longer perform material and substantial duties of his or her occupation. After the first 12 months the company may base the continuance of benefits on the person's ability to perform any work for which he or she is reasonably trained.

An insurance company paying for a disability claim may require the policyholder to provide a written doctor's report. The frequency of this requirement depends upon the particular policy. For example, a given insurer may require such medical updates every month. In addition, the insurer may monitor certain public activities by policyholders who file claims. Insurers may do so to fight fraud and keep insurance costs down.

Accident insurance

These policies cover death, disability, hospital and medical care resulting from an accident. A common variation called "accidental death insurance" can pay additional benefits for death due to motor vehicle or at-home accidents.

Limited benefit insurance

These policies cover certain expenses from specifically named illnesses, injuries or circumstances. For example, cancer policies pay benefits for the actual treatment of cancer. Some also pay benefit for conditions or diseases caused or aggravated by cancer or its treatment.

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