Accident & Health Insurance
Is Accident Insurance Worth It? 4 Reasons You Might Need It
You’ve got medical, dental, and vision insurance — plus a flexible spending account for good measure. If you have an accidental injury, you’re financially covered…right?
Maybe not. Even the best health insurance could leave you with unexpected costs. Accidents can happen at any time, potentially resulting in unforeseen medical bills, transportation costs, and other expenses. That’s where accident insurance comes in. It helps mitigate the financial burden an accidental injury can bring, helping you focus on your recovery. Read on to learn how accident insurance can help cover hospital stays, medical treatments, surgeries, and more.
Do I need accident insurance?
Let’s look at an example. Say, you fall from a ladder while changing a light bulb in a ceiling light. That single event could come with multiple expenses — from riding in the ambulance and staying at the hospital to getting medical procedures, medications, and more. An average trip to the emergency room (ER) costs around $1,139.1 After you’re discharged, you might still need follow-up care, crutches, or rehab. And all of that's in addition to other everyday expenses, like taking alternate transportation if you can't drive or ordering food delivery.
With accident insurance, you receive payments to use at your discretion. In this example, that could include everything from your deductible or coinsurance, to groceries or rides to work.
Still not convinced accident insurance is worth it? Here are four more reasons to consider:
1. Accidents happen more often than you’d think
We’d all love to think we’ll never get in an accident, but they’re more common than you’d expect. In fact, U.S. emergency rooms get about 38 million visits annually due to unintentional injuries.2 Children are also more prone to accidents. Each year, more than 775,000 kids, 14 years old and under, are treated in ERs for sports-related injuries.3 So it is worth considering having accident insurance for your whole family..
2. Accidents can put anyone out of work
If you get in an accident, you might need to take off work for physical therapy or follow-up care. In some cases, you might not be able to work at all due to broken bones or the inability to drive.
When that happens, it can make money tight—especially if you're facing multiple medical bills. Accident insurance can provide extra cash during periods of income loss.
3. With accident insurance, it doesn’t matter if you have a preexisting condition or change jobs
As long as you’re actively working, coverage is typically guaranteed. That means no questionnaires or biometric exams to take, and you’re covered no matter your health situation.
Accident insurance is often portable as well, meaning that if you change your job, you can keep your plan as long as you meet certain criteria. Check with an accident insurance plan administrator at your workplace to learn more.
4. Accident insurance covers more than just injuries
Many plans come with ancillary benefits for limb loss, accidental death, paralysis, or blindness. Having that extra protection can keep you (or your loved ones) from taking the full financial impact of a serious accident.
How to get accident insurance through your employer
Many employers offer accident insurance as part of their benefits packages, making it easy to sign up. If you have access to it through your employer, you can potentially save time and money. Here's how:
- Buying accident insurance through your employer gives you the convenience of getting a policy without the need to shop around for different options.
- You might have the option to auto-deduct the premium from your paycheck, which can remove the hassle of a monthly bill.
Open enrollment is the perfect time to consider protecting yourself and your family with accident insurance. Ask your benefits administrator (or your spouse’s) if they offer accident insurance, which plans are available and how to sign up.