Way to Designate Primary Carrier?

[padthaiforlunch]

Client is has group policy for himself and family. Oldest daughter also has health coverage through her university.

Client would like her insurance to be primary.

How to do this, please.

 

[LGilmore]

waive the school coverage. Saves em bucks. That's how most people do it. Emergency is emergency here or there.

Also review her policy if they don't want to drop it. It may already be a secondary payer.

 

[Fisher]

I read the OP's question as how to make the daughter's school coverage primary payer for the daughter.

Not that I know the answer.

 

[padthaiforlunch]

I read the OP's question as how to make the daughter's school coverage primary payer for the daughter.

You are correct, Sir!

 

[djs]

Most policies declare themselves secondary if there are multiple policies. you can't change this in any manner that I am aware of. Basically, the 2 policies then split the portion of the bill they will pay and the insured still pays their deductible and copay.

If a procedure is not covered by one of the policies but is by the other, then the one that covers it will be primary for that procedure.

As far as I know, there really isn't a practical reason to have 2 health insurance policies. It doesn't work like some dental policies do.

Of course, I would call the carrier and ask. It's been a while since I've been down this road.

Dan

 

[padthaiforlunch]

Thanks.

There is no financial benefit to taking her off of group. I think the school policy is a young woman exerting her independence. Dad wants her policy as primary.

As it is, both carriers fight for secondary.

 

[IndividualHealthGuy]

COB (coordination of benefits) has strict rules that are followed by pretty much every carrier. It can depend on the size of the group that the father has his coverage through, but since the school policy is self-purchased, it should typically be considered primary over the employer-sponsored plan.

 

[LGilmore]

Then she may need to drop from dad's plan if she wants the big girl pants.

READ the policies for school coverage. In many cases, they automatically are secondary payors. At least that was the case for both my kids in undergrad. That is why they charge about $60 a month for coverage.

Who's paying for college? Can dad or daughter save money by only taking one plan?

I'm just going from my memmory from a few years ago with both kids. We waived coverage from both schools, it reduced student fees about $500 for each year.. that's a lot of beer for a school year.

It may be different now, but read the school plan to be sure. That is why I immediately said drop the school coverage. In our cases at two different colleges the school plan is only primary if nothing else is there and god help ya if something major happens. As we all know, health plan pricing is a reflection of the benefits offered. When a health plan is $30-$50 a month with a couple hundred dollar deduct, the problem is on the other end of the plan.

 

[bill3173]

If the company claiming second is actually a better paying policy, you can make the request in writing and they will have to review it and make a determination.

Either way they're asking for trouble. In a situation like the one you described, it's a fight to get the claims paid accurately, and at all in some cases.

 

[IndividualHealthGuy]

If she can drop the school policy, that would probably be the best route. I know some schools require you to carry it, but then you have to use their on site clinic to get anything out of it. It's a huge joke if you have real health coverage.