Ancillary Benefits

Even with adequate health insurance, a hospital stay or ambulance ride could result in costly out-of-pocket expenses. Ancillary benefits provide additional coverage for miscellaneous health care bills. These policies may also help pay for preventive care and can generally be paid with pre-tax dollars.

What Are Ancillary Benefits?

Ancillary benefits provide secondary benefits typically excluded from traditional health insurance plans. Employers choose these benefit plans for their employees to supplement group health insurance. Employees who elect to participate in ancillary benefits may pay some or all the associated premiums, depending on their benefits plan.

Voluntary benefits are generally paid by employees. The premium is typically deducted from the insured’s paycheck and the company isn’t required to contribute, although they may choose to do so.

Employer-contributory benefits are typically partially paid by employers. Employers generally pay between 50% and 100% of the insured’s premiums with this plan. If there are remaining premiums, they are usually deducted from the insured’s paycheck.

What Do Ancillary Benefits Cover?

Examples of medical expenses that ancillary benefits may help pay for include the following:

  • Medical supplies
  • Drugs
  • Bandages
  • Blood
  • Ambulance rides

Policies may vary. Please consult your insurance agent for more information on your benefits package.

Is Long-Term Disability an Ancillary Benefit?

Ancillary benefits may vary with your insurance company and your benefits plan; however, an employer can offer both short- and long-term disability insurance as part of their employees’ benefits package.

Additional types of ancillary benefits include the following:

  • Life insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision insurance
  • Flexible spending account (FSA)
  • Health savings account (HSA)
  • Employee stipends
  • Health reimbursement arrangement (HRA)

Consult your insurance agent for more information on ancillary benefits or contact Laymon Group Benefit Consulting today.

Are Ancillary Benefits and Voluntary Benefits the Same?

Ancillary benefits may also be called voluntary benefits. Generally, these benefits are offered as part of an employer’s health insurance plan. Employees can choose to opt in or out of ancillary benefits. The percentage of premiums they pay will vary with the type of benefits plan their employer has chosen.

Getting Coverage

Offering ancillary benefits as an employer can help satisfy employee desires for additional health insurance coverage and improve employer branding. Contact Laymon Group Benefit Consulting to speak to an insurance agent about ancillary benefits.