Cash benefits for when a bad day gets expensive.

Accident insurance

• What it pays: set amounts for covered injuries and the care that follows, such as an emergency room visit, a broken bone or physical therapy.
• Who it tends to fit: active households, people with physical jobs, and anyone with a high deductible.
• Question to ask: which injuries and treatments are on the benefit schedule, and how much each one pays.

Critical illness insurance

• What it pays: a lump sum if you’re diagnosed with a covered condition, such as a heart attack, stroke or cancer.
• Who it tends to fit: people who couldn’t easily cover months of reduced income or travel for treatment.
• Question to ask: exactly which conditions are covered, and whether there’s a waiting period before the coverage starts.

Hospital indemnity insurance

• What it pays: a set amount for a covered hospital admission, and often per day you stay.
• Who it tends to fit: people on high-deductible plans, and anyone expecting a planned procedure in the future.
• Question to ask: how much it pays per admission and per day, and whether pre-existing conditions are limited.

What these plans are not

They are not major medical coverage, and they don’t meet the requirements of a health plan. If you don’t have major medical yet, we start there first: a private plan, COBRA, a group plan, or the Marketplace as a fallback. Then we look at whether an add-on makes sense.