Enrolling in medical, dental and vision insurance often feels like a given, but what about coverage that can offer additional protection? With 72% of U.S. workers feeling at least somewhat stressed about their personal finances, this may be the perfect time to explore how supplemental health benefits, such as accident insurance, critical illness insurance and hospital indemnity insurance, can help ease the financial impact of unexpected events and medical expenses. They provide an added layer of financial protection when accidents, serious illnesses or hospital stays occur.1,2
What Are These Coverages?
Accident insurance, which we call Accidental Injury Insurance, critical illness insurance, which we call Critical Illness Benefits, and hospital indemnity insurance are benefits you can buy in addition to traditional medical insurance. They offer cash benefits when you experience a covered incident, event or condition.
Accidental Injury Insurance is designed to cover accidental injuries like dislocations, burns, lacerations and other urgent care needs.
Critical Illness Benefits offer coverage for serious illnesses like cancer, stroke or a heart attack.3
Hospital Indemnity Insurance provides cash benefits for covered hospital admissions and stays. These benefits can help employees manage out-of-pocket expenses and other costs that may arise during a hospital stay.
What To Know About Supplemental Health Benefits
1. Cash Benefits – Paid Directly to You
When your accidental injury or critical illness benefits or hospital indemnity claim is approved, you’ll receive cash benefits that you can use however you wish. The payment goes to you – not a healthcare provider or facility - that you can use for any expense, such as:
- Copays and deductibles
- Child care costs while you recover
- Rent or mortgage
- Groceries and more
2. Works Alongside Your Medical Insurance
These benefits are designed to help create an extra financial safety net in addition to your health insurance. The cash benefits you could get can help bridge the gap between what your medical insurance covers and other expenses even the best medical plans don’t cover.
For example, hospital indemnity insurance can provide additional financial support during a covered hospital stay, helping employees manage expenses that major medical coverage may not fully cover.
3. More Affordable Than You Think
Like your other coverage options, supplemental health benefits are paid through a fixed monthly premium typically deducted from your paycheck. That amount is often far less than a traditional medical insurance premium. When enrolling, you may also be able to get coverage for yourself, your spouse and your family.
4. Coverage When You Need It
These benefits can help provide financial support for a variety of situations, including accidental injuries, covered critical illnesses and hospital stays.
5. Moves With You From Job to Job
Changing jobs or getting ready to retire? No sweat. You can take your supplemental health benefits with you for a fixed monthly cost.
How To Sign Up for Benefits
Check with your employer to see if they offer accidental injury insurance, critical illness benefits and hospital indemnity insurance as part of their annual enrollment event. Choosing coverage through your employer may:
- Offer greater financial protection at a reduced rate.
- Save you time researching and vetting coverages on your own.
- Offer a benefits payroll deduction option, meaning you won’t have to worry about a monthly bill to pay.
Be sure to review all the benefits options during your employer’s annual enrollment or if you experience a life change event. Take control of your financial wellness today so you can rest easier tomorrow.
1 The Hartford’s 2025 Future of Benefits Study.
2 Supplemental health products (Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity) are independent and do not coordinate with any other health coverage.
3 Critical Illness is referred to as “Specified Disease” in New York.
The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc., (NYSE: HIG) operates through its subsidiaries, including underwriting company Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company, under the brand name, The Hartford®, and is headquartered at One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. For additional details, please read The Hartford’s legal notice at www.TheHartford.com. All benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the policy. Policies underwritten by the underwriting company listed above detail exclusions, limitations, reduction of benefits and terms under which the policies may be continued in force or discontinued.
THE ACCIDENT POLICY IS A LIMITED ACCIDENT ONLY BENEFIT POLICY. IT PROVIDES COVERAGE ONLY FOR THE LIMITED BENEFITS OR SERVICES SPECIFIED IN THE POLICY. This limited benefit plan (1) does not constitute major medical coverage, and (2) does not satisfy the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) because the coverage does not meet the requirements of minimum essential coverage.
In New York: This Accident policy provides ACCIDENT insurance only. It does NOT provide basic hospital, basic medical or major medical insurance as defined by the New York State Department of Financial Services. IMPORTANT NOTICE—THIS POLICY DOES NOT PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR SICKNESS.
Accident Form Series includes GBD-2000, GBD-2300, GBD-3300, GBD-3500, or state equivalent.
THIS POLICY PROVIDES LIMITED BENEFITS FOR SPECIFIED DISEASES ONLY. IT PROVIDES COVERAGE ONLY FOR THE LIMITED BENEFITS OR SERVICES SPECIFIED IN THE POLICY. This limited benefit plan (1) does not constitute major medical coverage, and (2) does not satisfy the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) because the coverage does not meet the requirements of minimum essential coverage.
In New York: This policy provides limited benefits health insurance only. It does NOT provide basic hospital, basic medical or major medical insurance as defined by the New York State Department of Financial Services.
Critical Illness Form Series includes GBD-2600, GBD-2700 GBD-3600, GBD-3700, or state equivalent.
The Hartford Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG) operates through its subsidiaries, under the brand name, The Hartford, and is headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. For additional details, please read The Hartford’s legal notice at https://www.thehartford.com.
