You can’t predict when you or someone in your family will have a medical issue. But you can get extra financial protection for when it happens — so you don’t have to choose between taking care of your health or taking care of everyday expenses. These plans can provide a fixed benefit payment made directly to you – not the health care provider – when you experience a covered illness, injury, or treatment. That can reduce stress in a way that supports also supports mental and emotional wellness at a critical time.
Supplemental health insurance
Illness or injury can happen to anyone. Get added financial support when it does.
For employees
Read on to see how supplemental health insurance works, or ask your benefits department about options at work.
For employers
Who should get it?
Anybody who wants extra financial protection. Even with good healthcare coverage, you could incur thousands in out-of-pocket costs if you had to visit an emergency room or pay for a series of cancer radiation treatments.
What does it cover?
Different types of plans (see below) help cover costs related to different circumstances or events, including illnesses, injuries and hospitalization. And in a given type of plan, benefit amounts tend to vary based on the severity of the diagnosis, treatments provided, and other factors.
Is it worth it?
About two-thirds of all personal bankruptcies are related to medical debt.1 But when supplemental health insurance plans are offered at work, many employees feel it’s often worth the cost, especially because they benefit from affordable group rates.
Hospital indemnity insurance
Hospital indemnity insurance can help cover the costs associated with hospitalization, especially if your health plan has high deductibles and copays, if you need child care, or if you need to travel far from home to receive medical care.
Critical illness insurance
Critical illness insurance provides a benefit payment if diagnosed with a critical illness such as cancer or suffer a medical event like a heart attack or stroke.
Accident insurance
Accident insurance can help cover extra out-of-pocket expenses not covered by health insurance that you might face if you’re injured in an accident. In addition, many plans have an option to receive an added benefit for a child organized sports-related injury.2
Cancer insurance
Cancer insurance can help cover radiation/chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, hospitalization costs, and hospitalization costs — all related to a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Half of working adults say they only have $2,000 saved for a medical emergency.*
How supplemental health benefits work
The benefit amount for each covered event (such as a specific diagnosis or medical service) is clearly spelled out in your plan. When something happens, the claims process is typically straightforward: you can usually file online, and upload proof of diagnosis or services received. Soon after, the benefit payment is made directly to you.
It works with — but doesn’t replace — regular medical insurance: Your health insurance plan is the primary payer for healthcare services and is designed to cover a significant portion of medical expenses. Supplemental health insurance provides additional financial protection: you can use the money you get to help cover out-of-pocket care costs and other non-injury or illness related expenses, as well as any other expenses
What about the cost?
Supplemental insurance costs vary depending on the type of plan, conditions covered, and benefit amounts offered. While you may be able to purchase some types of supplemental insurance plans as an individual, plans offered by your employer may have better rates than an individual plan — starting for about the cost of a latte a day.3 Benefits through work are also convenient to get and pay for via payroll deductions
Why workers choose Guardian supplemental health insurance
Even with major medical coverage, you can face a lot of unexpected costs when you experience a serious illness or injury. For example, health insurance will pay a hospital bill, but it doesn’t give you extra money to take a car service to treatment because you can’t drive for a week. But your supplemental health insurance does. The benefit payment goes directly to you, and you can use in any way you need.
Guardian supplemental health insurance benefits from work can also cover your spouse and children. Depending on the benefit plans offered by your employer, you may be able to choose and combine coverages for hospitalization, accidents, cancer, and other serious illnesses. There may also be valuable benefits for wellness, travel, and more.
Frequently asked questions about supplemental health insurance
Material discussed is meant for general informational purposes only and is not to be construed as tax, legal, medical, or financial advice. Guardian, its subsidiaries, agents and employees do not provide tax, legal, medical or finance advice. Consult your tax, legal, medical or finance professional regarding your individual situation.
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Guardian’s Group Insurance products are underwritten and issued by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY. Products are not available in all states.
1 Hospital and Surgery Costs, Debt.org, 2023
2 The child must be insured by the plan on the date the accident occurred and must be 18 years of age or younger; proof of registration required at time of claim.
3 https://www.guardianlife.com/accident-insurance
4 Medicare has not approved, endorsed, or authorized this material. Contact Medicare for complete details regarding eligibility for benefits.
* The Value of Supplemental Health Insurance, Guardian, 2025