What defines secondary coverage in health insurance?

Secondary coverage in health insurance is defined as insurance that begins to pay only after primary coverage has been used. This means that when an individual has more than one health insurance policy, the primary insurance will be billed first to cover the costs of medical services. Once the primary insurance has processed the claim and paid its portion, the secondary insurance can then take over and help cover any remaining expenses. This arrangement is often beneficial for policyholders as it can help reduce out-of-pocket costs.

The other options do not accurately represent the concept of secondary coverage. Insurance that covers only emergency services does not capture the broader purpose of secondary coverage. Requiring patients to pay upfront does not relate to the functioning of secondary insurance. Lastly, the notion of covering all medical expenses at once contradicts the concept of sequential coverage where primary insurance is utilized before secondary coverage kicks in.