A Plus Insurance is a supplemental coverage option offered by some health plans

A Plus Insurance is not a standalone insurance product you buy on its own. Instead, it is an add-on coverage option that certain health insurance carriers — primarily UnitedHealthcare and a few regional insurers — offer to people who already have a base health plan with them. The coverage fills gaps in what your main plan pays for, typically by reducing your out-of-pocket costs when you use medical services.

The specifics of what A Plus Insurance covers depend entirely on which carrier offers it and which version you choose. Some versions focus on reducing copays and coinsurance at the point of care. Others reimburse you after you pay. The key difference from your base plan is that A Plus is optional — you decide whether to add it — and it costs extra in monthly premiums.

Because A Plus Insurance is offered by individual carriers rather than mandated by law or regulation, the rules, costs, and coverage details vary significantly. What UnitedHealthcare calls A Plus may work differently from what another insurer calls by the same name. You cannot assume two plans with the same name work the same way.

Key Takeaways

  • A Plus Insurance is an optional add-on to an existing health plan, not a standalone product, and is offered by select carriers like UnitedHealthcare.
  • The coverage typically reduces copays, coinsurance, or out-of-pocket costs, but the exact benefits depend on which carrier and which version you choose.
  • You pay an additional monthly premium to add A Plus to your base plan, so you should compare the extra cost against the savings it provides for your expected medical use.
  • A Plus Insurance rules and coverage details are set by each carrier individually, so you must review your specific plan documents rather than assuming two plans with the same name work identically.

How A Plus Insurance Layers on Top of Your Base Plan

When you have both a base health plan and A Plus Insurance, the two work together in sequence. Your base plan processes the claim first and determines what it will pay and what you owe. Then A Plus Insurance steps in and covers part or all of what your base plan left you responsible for.

For example, if your base plan requires a $40 copay for a doctor visit and A Plus Insurance covers copays, you would pay $0 at the time of the visit instead. If your base plan requires 20% coinsurance on a specialist visit and the bill is $500, you would normally owe $100 — but A Plus might cover that $100, leaving you with $0 out of pocket.

The exact mechanics depend on your carrier's design. Some versions of A Plus reimburse you after you submit a claim. Others reduce the amount you owe before you pay. Always check your plan documents to understand the order in which your base plan and A Plus process claims.

Who Offers A Plus Insurance and Where to Find It

UnitedHealthcare is the primary carrier offering A Plus Insurance, though it is not available in all states or through all plan types. Some regional Blue Cross Blue Shield plans and a small number of other carriers have offered similar products under the same or different names.

If you already have a health plan with one of these carriers, you may see A Plus as an option during open enrollment or when you first sign up. It typically appears as a checkbox or upgrade option on the plan selection screen. If you do not see it offered, it may not be available in your state or through your specific plan type.

To find out whether A Plus Insurance is available to you, contact your current carrier directly or log into your online account and look for add-on coverage options. Your employer's benefits administrator can also tell you whether A Plus is offered as part of your plan menu.

Comparing the Cost of A Plus Insurance Against Your Savings

A Plus Insurance costs money — you pay an additional monthly premium on top of your base plan premium. Whether it makes financial sense depends on how much medical care you expect to use and how much the add-on costs.

If you rarely visit the doctor and have low out-of-pocket costs under your base plan, the extra premium for A Plus may cost more than you would save. If you have chronic conditions, take regular medications, or see specialists frequently, the reduction in copays and coinsurance could save you hundreds of dollars per year.

To decide, gather three pieces of information: the monthly premium for A Plus, the out-of-pocket costs you paid in the past year under your base plan alone, and an estimate of what those same services would cost under your base plan plus A Plus. If the annual savings exceed the annual premium cost, A Plus is likely worth it for you.

What A Plus Insurance Does Not Cover

A Plus Insurance is not comprehensive coverage. It only reduces out-of-pocket costs for services your base plan already covers. If your base plan does not cover a service — such as cosmetic surgery, fertility treatment, or certain experimental drugs — A Plus will not cover it either.

A Plus also does not replace your base plan's deductible, annual out-of-pocket maximum, or network restrictions. You still must meet your deductible before most services are covered, and you still must use in-network providers to receive the full benefit. A Plus straightforward reduces what you owe after your base plan has processed the claim.

Additionally, A Plus Insurance does not cover services outside the United States unless your base plan covers them. It does not cover dental, vision, or hearing care unless your base plan includes those benefits and A Plus specifically extends to them.

When to Add or Remove A Plus Insurance

You can usually add A Plus Insurance during your employer's open enrollment period or when you first enroll in a health plan. Some carriers allow you to add it at other times if you experience a may have access to life event — such as marriage, birth of a child, or loss of other coverage — though this varies by carrier.

You can remove A Plus Insurance at any time, though the timing matters if you are trying to avoid paying for a month you do not use. If you drop it mid-month, you may still be charged for the full month depending on your carrier's rules. Check your plan documents or call your carrier to understand the effective date of any change.

If you are considering dropping A Plus, calculate whether you will save more by removing it than you will lose by paying out-of-pocket costs under your base plan alone. Sometimes keeping it through the end of the year is cheaper than dropping it early and then facing higher costs for the remaining months.

How A Plus Insurance Differs From Other Supplemental Coverage

A Plus Insurance is different from Medigap (supplemental coverage for Medicare) and short-term health insurance. Medigap is specifically designed for people on Medicare and covers gaps in what Medicare pays. Short-term health insurance is temporary coverage that lasts a few months and is meant to bridge gaps between major plans.

A Plus Insurance is also different from critical illness insurance or accident insurance, which pay you a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a specific condition or injured in an accident. A Plus reduces your everyday out-of-pocket costs, not a one-time payment for a major event.

The closest comparison is to hospital indemnity insurance, which also layers on top of a base plan. Both reduce what you owe out of pocket. The difference is that hospital indemnity focuses on inpatient hospital stays, while A Plus typically covers a broader range of services including office visits, specialist care, and sometimes prescription drugs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy A Plus Insurance without having a base health plan?

No. A Plus Insurance is an add-on product that only works with a base health plan from the same carrier. You must have the base plan first, then choose to add A Plus as an optional upgrade.

Does A Plus Insurance count toward my deductible?

No. A Plus Insurance covers costs after your base plan has processed the claim. It does not reduce your deductible or count as progress toward meeting it. You still must satisfy your base plan's deductible before most services are covered.

What happens to A Plus Insurance if I change jobs or switch health plans?

A Plus Insurance ends when your base plan ends. If you move to a different health plan — whether through a new job or by switching carriers — you cannot keep your old A Plus Insurance. You would need to enroll in a new base plan and then decide whether to add A Plus through the new carrier, if it is offered.

Can I use A Plus Insurance with an HSA or FSA?

Yes, you can use a health savings account or flexible spending account alongside A Plus Insurance. The two are separate — your HSA or FSA helps you save money for medical expenses, while A Plus reduces what you owe out of pocket. You can use both at the same time.

Is A Plus Insurance the same across all states?

No. A Plus Insurance availability and coverage details vary by state and by carrier. What is offered in one state may not be offered in another, and the benefits may differ. Always review your specific plan documents for your state and carrier.