In this era of pandemic, recession, and inflation, the healthcare industry has not remained immune. It seems that coverage and provider costs are nearly always on the rise, whether their individual or business consumers can keep up or not. 

Luckily, as healthcare costs rise, so do healthcare insurance alternatives, like subscription-based healthcare, medical cost sharing plans, and gap health insurance.

Gap health insurance is becoming a more and more viable solution for both businesses and individuals. This specialty coverage is often called “insurance on insurance” because it covers the difference between the cost of care and the cost of High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP). An HDHP is defined as a deductible of at least $1,400 for an individual and $2,800 for a family. 

What Gap Health Insurance Is—and Isn’t 

Also called, “group supplemental health insurance plans,” gap health insurance covers out-of-pocket medical fees as well as unexpected and urgent medical needs. 

Gap Health Insurance Could:

• Reduce monthly payments for medical insurance
• Cover out-of-pocket costs like testing, lab-work, copays, or unexpected medical procedures
• Supplement gaps in a low balance Health Savings Account (HSA)

Gap Health Insurance Cannot:

• Be used in place of medical insurance
• Fulfill the ACA coverage requirement

When Does Gap Health Insurance Make Sense

For Individuals

If you have a low HSA balance, or anticipate that you may need uncovered services throughout the coverage period, a gap health insurance policy may be right for you. For instance, if your employer offers a high deductible plan for a lower monthly rate, but you anticipate getting pregnant, it may be a better option to pay the lower monthly rate and find a low cost gap plan to help cover the many doctors’ visits, tests, and scans that you will need during the course of the pregnancy. 

Gap health insurance provides peace of mind if you know that something unexpected would put financial strain on your lifestyle. Knowing that gap health insurance can supplement unexpected costs will leave your income to take care of the everyday needs of yourself and those who rely on you. 

For Businesses

Gap Health Insurance could be a great option for businesses, benefits managers, human resource offices—anyone looking for cost effective solutions for their employees. On average, employers can save up to 20% on their group premium when they opt for gap health insurance paired with a high deductible health plan (HDHP). 

Why Insurance Alternatives? 

Easy—better solutions are brought forth from worse problems. Healthcare can be a scary world full of fancy jargon and big words that seem designed to confuse and mystify. We want to help you make sense of your health and take on a complete approach to your wellbeing so that you can feel in control.

Couple that confusion with the fact that healthcare costs are on the rise, and you come up with a lot of un- or underinsured people who need solutions that make sense to them or that they can afford.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization focusing on national health issues, pre-pandemic, 73.7% of uninsured adults said that they were uninsured because the cost of coverage was too high—and that’s only gone up since 2020.

Now is the time for you to take charge of your own wellness and find products that make sense for your health, your budget, your goals, and your ideals. Wellness solutions like 180 Healthcare offer you the chance to be an active participant in your own health. 

Finding the Right Coverage

What is covered in a gap health insurance policy varies based on many factors. Unlike major medical insurance, which are barred by discriminatory limitations, gap plans can take into consideration pre-existing conditions and change coverage based on their assessment. Some factors that may affect your rate could be:

1. Age
2. Health status
3. Your location

Find a gap policy that covers benefits your main medical insurance does not. For instance, many major medical insurance premiums will apply to common needs, like primary care check-ups and prescription medication. However, many will not cover larger in- and out-patient procedures, like labs, bloodwork, or biometric scans. 

Alternatives to Gap Health Insurance

At 180 Healthcare, we seek to offer solutions outside the realm of traditional health insurance. Everyone’s wellness journey is different, but there are a finite number of models that apply to how we access and afford healthcare.

Our plan can act as gap insurance while providing other benefits that will promote a healthy lifestyle. Our plans allow you or your employees to not only have preventative care, but access to the resources that make living well possible. 

Members of 180 Healthcare get unlimited 24/7 visits to their primary doctor, a free gym membership, discounts on a variety of healthcare services—and more solutions for a holistically healthy lifestyle. 

Plus, some of the solutions that 180 Healthcare offers are ACA compliant. It is the best of both worlds to save your company money—and headache—while maintaining a structure of insurance that fits into major healthcare plans. 

Trust the Experts

To find the right solution for you or your employees, you must consider the importance of a trustworthy source who is up-to-date on all of the latest tech and practices in health care. 

If you’re considering gap health insurance or just interested in more cost effective options for coverage, contact our 180 Healthcare team to discover alternatives to traditional healthcare or special policies. 

As the world changes and we re-evaluate our personal priorities, let’s also take a new look at what health means to us. Take stock of all of the ways you interact with the healthcare industry—and how to find solutions that work for your needs, instead of the other way around.