Coordination of Benefits

When you’re covered by more than one health insurance plan, the insurance companies use a process called Coordination of Benefits (COB) to determine which plan pays first. This helps avoid overpayments or duplicate payments for the same service.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Primary Insurance is the plan that pays first—it covers your mental health services as if there is no other insurance.

• Secondary Insurance kicks in after the primary plan has paid. It may help cover any remaining costs, like co-pays or uncovered balances.

In most cases:

• If you’re the policyholder on your employer’s plan, that insurance is considered primary.

• If you’re also covered through a spouse or partner’s plan, that insurance is usually secondary.

Be sure to tell both insurance companies that you have dual coverage and complete any Coordination of Benefits forms they send you. This helps ensure claims are processed correctly and without delay.

At our practice, we’re happy to submit claims to both plans when appropriate, but knowing which plan is primary helps us serve you better and avoid billing issues. If you’re unsure, we recommend calling both insurers or checking your member portals.

Still have questions? Feel free to reach out! We’re here to help you navigate your coverage so you can focus on your mental health.