Often misused as a substitute for each other, the terms supplementary health insurance and mutual health insurance have significant differences. And even though they are an integral part of our healthcare expenses, many of us still struggle to differentiate between supplementary health insurance and mutual health insurance! To put an end to these hesitations that sometimes cause us to avoid discussing such a topic, here is a guide that highlights the differences between these two health-related elements.
What is supplementary health insurance?
Supplementary health insurance is the insurance that supplements social security coverage for healthcare costs. The contracting party is therefore able to benefit from a supplement to their co-payment, either partially or fully. Depending on the GFM contract chosen, but also the insurance, supplementary health insurance generally refers to a reimbursement basis. However, in general, the reimbursement items remain the same, including:
- Medical consultations and care;
- Medicines;
- Hospitalization costs;
- Dental care and prosthetics;
- Optical expenses;
- Hearing aids.
Additionally, health insurance may also offer additional services beyond healthcare reimbursements, depending on the organization. Alternative medicine, spa treatments, and corrective vision surgery may be among the areas covered by supplementary health insurance.
Health insurance: What is it?
For its part, mutual health insurance also supports reimbursements from mandatory health insurance. Subscribing to a mutual health insurance plan is optional and allows you to benefit from guarantees as diverse as those of supplementary health insurance. Medical care, optical care, and dental care—the list can grow depending on the agreement signed.
The differences between mutual and supplementary health insurance
The main reason why many people speak interchangeably of these contracts is that their objectives are similar. Both are, in fact, indicated to partially or fully supplement the health reimbursements of the social security, which is considered unsatisfactory. However, fundamentally, these two elements remain completely different, especially at the level of the organization that offers the service.
While supplemental health insurance is offered by an insurance company, mutual insurance is made available to interested parties by a non-profit organization. Mutual insurance subscribers will thus be able to participate in various meetings and will also be able to contribute to the Board of Directors’ vote. In addition, supplemental health insurance is one of the offerings offered by an insurance company, in addition to other protection services such as home insurance or car insurance. On the one hand, mutual insurance is the result of solidarity between members to optimize health care for each individual.
Furthermore, be aware that for those who want effective reimbursement of their healthcare expenses after Social Security and supplementary health insurance or mutual insurance coverage, it is possible to take out additional top-up insurance. Offering a significantly reduced out-of-pocket cost, the GMF top-up option offers multiple subscription plans to choose from, depending on the needs and budget of the contracting party.
