How does having 2 Insurance plans work?

Hummingbird125

So, even though I have insurance through my job, my husband just elected to add me to the plan he has through his job as well (it cost next to nothing to add me). My plan expires at the end of February and we've been told that they MAY be switching plans then - so although I think it is pretty safe to assume the new plan would be comparable, there is no way to know for sure. This way, if I elect to not enroll in coverage through my employer, I'll already be covered through my husband's plan.

I've heard that some people have both "primary" and "secondary" insurance coverage. Wondering if anyone here has experience with that, and how exactly it works. Thanks in advance for any help!

bsckgb7

My husband is "double-insured".  Basically it eliminates co-pays/deductibles.  His work insurance is primary (so your work insurance would be primary) and it pays the normal amount according to his plan.  If he has a $30 copay, then his secondary insurance (through my work) would kick in and pay the co-pay.  It's a good set-up of one insurance is kinda crappier than the other or if one person has tons of medicines and doctors visits.  

Hummingbird125

Thank you @bsckgb7 !! That helps.

1faceinacrowd

I'll add to PP and say it does depend on the insurance plan. If both insurance plans have a high deductible, you will likely end up owing after both insurances have processed. If, like PP said, one of them has a copay, it will likely be picked up. Make sure you inform both insurances that the other one exists, otherwise your claims could be held up. Most primary insurances have the ability to forward the electronic remittance to your secondary insurance, which speeds up the process and removes the ability for the hospital/doctor's office to accidentally skip billing the secondary insurance. 
Also, make sure that any hospital/doctor's office you go to is in-network with BOTH insurances. The reason you typically end up with little to no bill is primarily due to the contracts that insurance companies have with in-network providers, which dictate how much the insurance company or the patient can pay on any given charge (referred to as the "maximum allowable"). Anything billed over that allowed amount is written off and you have a higher chance of having charges written off if two in-network insurances are processing the same bill.