If you have more than one health insurance plan, it is very important to keep your Coordination of Benefits (COB) information up to date. COB is how insurance companies decide which plan pays first and which plan pays second when you have multiple coverages, for example, employer insurance plus Medicare, or your plan plus your spouse’s plan. When COB information is missing or outdated, claims may be denied, which can delay payment and cause confusing bills. Staying on top of your COB protects your coverage, reduces denials, and helps avoid unnecessary out-of-pocket costs.

Who is most affected

You are more likely to have COB issues if any of the following apply:

• You have insurance through your employer and coverage through a spouse or partner’s employer
• You have Medicare and another plan, such as an employer group plan, retiree plan, Medigap, or Medicare Advantage
• You have Medicaid in addition to Medicare or a commercial plan
• Your children are covered under more than one parent’s plan
• You recently changed jobs, changed insurance, or added/dropped dependents

In these situations, insurance companies often need you to confirm which plan is primary and which is secondary before they process the claims.

What you should do before your visit

Taking a few minutes before your appointment can prevent months of back-and-forth later. The following list will help you prepare for your doctor's visit:

• Bring physical or digital cards for every plan that covers you including Medicare, Medicaid, employer plans, marketplace plans, TRICARE, and any supplemental or secondary plans.
• Call the member services number on your card or visit your plan’s website to confirm your coverage is active and that your COB information is current, for example, confirming which plan is primary vs. secondary.
• At check-in, inform our reception every health insurance plan you have. This helps us bill in the correct order and reduces the chance of a COB denial.
• Inform us if you change jobs, your spouse changes jobs, a child’s coverage changes, or when you become eligible for Medicare, at your next visit or by calling our office.

What to do if you get a COB-related denial or letter

If you receive a letter or explanation of benefits (EOB) from your insurer requesting you to update your Coordination of Benefits (COB) information, please follow these steps.

• Call the number on your card or follow the instructions in the letter to complete their COB questionnaire, either online, by phone, or by mail.
• Be ready to provide details about all of your coverage: employer names, start dates, other policy numbers, and whether you are active or retired.
• After you update your information with your insurer, contact our billing team so we can resubmit any denied claims as soon as the payer is ready to process them.
• Keep copies of everything in case there are questions later.

To help prevent COB-related denials and surprise bills, keep this quick checklist:

• Review your insurance information at least once a year and whenever you have a job or coverage change
• Always answer COB questionnaires or letters from your insurance company as soon as possible
• Make sure to verify that your COB is updated and that all other coverage is listed correctly
• Inform every active insurance plan with our registration staff at each visit

Contact our Patient Access department at 850-314-6363 or our Customer Service at 850-863-8105 if you are unsure which plan should be primary or if you have more questions, our team is available to assist you.