Hospital indemnity insurance is a supplemental policy that pays a fixed cash benefit when you’re admitted to or spend time in a hospital, paid directly to you, regardless of what your major-medical plan covers. It’s meant to help with deductibles, coinsurance, and everyday bills, not to replace health insurance.
Supplemental & Ancillary Benefits
Benefits that complement major medical coverage: dental, vision, group life and AD&D, disability, accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity, and Employee Assistance Programs.
What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?
An EAP is an employer-sponsored benefit that gives employees and their household free, confidential access to short-term help: counseling for mental health, stress, relationships, grief, and substance use, plus referrals for legal, financial, and work-life issues. It’s typically offered at no cost to the employee.
How does dental insurance work?
Most dental plans follow a 100/80/50 structure: preventive care (cleanings, exams) covered at 100%, basic work (fillings) around 80%, and major work (crowns, bridges) around 50%, subject to an annual maximum benefit (often $1,000–$2,000) and sometimes waiting periods. DHMO plans are cheaper but network-restricted; PPO plans cost more but offer more flexibility.
What does vision insurance cover?
Vision insurance is typically a low-cost plan that covers a routine eye exam and gives an allowance toward glasses or contact lenses, usually once every 12 months, plus in-network discounts. It is not medical eye care; injuries and eye disease are handled by your health plan.
What’s the difference between group term life and AD&D insurance?
Group term life insurance pays a benefit to your beneficiary if you die while covered (often 1–2× salary as employer-paid “basic,” plus optional employee-paid amounts). AD&D pays a separate benefit only for death or specified injuries caused by an accident; it’s much narrower and is not a substitute for life insurance.
What’s the difference between short-term and long-term disability insurance?
Short-term disability (STD) replaces part of your income for a few weeks to a few months after an injury or illness, usually after a short waiting period. Long-term disability (LTD) starts after STD ends and can continue for years, sometimes to retirement age. Both typically replace about 50–70% of income.
What are accident and critical illness insurance?
Accident insurance pays a fixed cash benefit for injuries from a covered accident (such as an ER visit or a fracture), and critical illness insurance pays a lump sum when you’re diagnosed with a covered condition like cancer, heart attack, or stroke. Both pay you directly to help with costs your medical plan doesn’t, and are popular alongside high-deductible plans.