Many employers offer a basic "High Deductible" or "Core" plan for free or at a very low cost. Employees can then "buy up" to a Premium Plan (Good and Associates).

: It may cover things the base plan excludes. 🏥 Buy-Up in Health Insurance

For farmers, "Catastrophic" (CAT) coverage is the bare minimum. Buy-up options allow for significantly higher protection (ScienceDirect).

: The USDA often increases subsidies for buy-up options to encourage participation (Agri-Pulse).

: Often used to add spouses or dependents (The Loop).