I have worked in the commercial health insurance field for 15 years. It is very possible for both of you to cover one another on your employer's plan. How it works: for example, if you were to be covered under your plan with bc/bs which allows 80% (of the contracted amount the provider has agreed to) which leaves you with a 20% coinsurance (your responsibility) and your partner's plan through their employer is an hmo and only allows copayments (ie: $10.00 for an office visit); your insurance company will pay first, then whatever is remaining minus the $10.00 copayment would be your responsibility.

It would work the same if them if they have an hmo and it doesn't cover a service, your bc/bs would then consider reimbursement.

With the rising cost of health insurance premiums, you seriously consider the financial out of pocket of how much you are going to both be paying per month for premiums vs. How much you are both going to gain by the secondary insurance. You may find that it just isn't worth it!

Some companies won't let you add your spouse onto your insurance if they are offered insurance thru the company they work at. For example :

i worked at a grouphome agency and my insurance was pretty cheap it was really good insurance, but it was cheap because it was a large company so employees didn't have to pay too much. For it. I had my husband added onto it but once he was able to get insurance thru the place he works at he was no longer eligible to be on mine.

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(because you usually have to work at a place for like 6 months before getting insurance thru the company you are working at). And that was the case with us..........After he's been with his company for like 6 months I had to get him dropped from my insurance!

I ain't working right now and my husbands insurance ain't the best (well it's good but for me to be added it would be like $500.00/month the only way it wouldn't be is after he's been working there for like 5 years. ...And he'll only be at that company 1 year in january.