supplemental health insurance
(SUH-pleh-MEN-tul helth in-SHOOR-ents)
An additional insurance plan that helps pay for health care costs that are not covered by a person’s regular health insurance plan. These costs include copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. There are many different types of supplemental health insurance, including vision, dental, hospital, accident, disability, long-term care, and Medicare supplemental plans. There are also supplemental health insurance plans for specific conditions, such as cancer, stroke, or kidney failure. Some types of supplemental health insurance may also be used to help pay for food, medicine, transportation, and other expenses related to an illness or injury.