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Health Insurance

Why getting health insurance is such a good idea

Nobody wants to get sick, but it will happen at some point. And when it does, you need medical practitioners or health insurance agents near me who can help you recover.

Of course, healthcare doesn’t come cheap. If you want to pay out of pocket, you could wind up blowing a significant chunk of your life savings. That’s why it’s so important to get health insurance. It’s there for you when you need it the most.

In this post, we take a look at some of the reasons why getting medical cover is so vital. Check them out below.

1. It combats lifestyle-related diseases

Lifestyle-related diseases are on the rise. More and more people under the age of fifty are getting conditions, such as diabetes, respiratory disorders and heart disease. These conditions require long-term management, which makes paying for them out of pocket prohibitively expensive. What’s more, when you have conditions like these, it becomes more difficult to work and earn a high income.

Health plans cover medical tests and treatments for most of these diseases. They may also provide funds to support your lifestyle both before and after diagnosis. This way, you can prevent or treat conditions, without the need for expensive drugs or therapies.

2. It counters medical inflation

Prices are rising across the economy, but particularly in medicine. Costs here are going up exponentially for a number of reasons. Doctors are charging more, room rents are going up, and diagnostic testing is becoming more expensive.

Insurance helps to protect you against this. Most good policies provide adequate cover for most of the common diseases, protecting you in the event that you get sick.

3. It protects your savings

Related to this is the fact that medical insurance protects your savings. Nothing is worse than building up a nest egg for decades, only to see it disappear overnight because of high medical costs.

4. It protects your family

Lastly, when you take out family health insurance, it ensures that your whole family gets the best medical care. You’re not relying on state services or charities. Taking out the right policy protects your children, elderly parents and spouse.

As a final note, make sure that you take out health insurance early in your life. Remember, most policies won’t cover pre-existing conditions.

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Health Insurance

3 commonly asked questions about health insurance answered

Is it your first time purchasing an individual health insurance policy? If so, you probably have many questions and concerns regarding health insurance and how it works. Below, we’ve answered three commonly asked questions about health insurance to keep you informed.

1. Does health insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

Most insurers don’t cover pre-existing conditions because the risks are higher. For instance, if you have diabetes and get into an accident, your wounds may take longer to heal, requiring more treatment and more doctor visits. This means more money paid out by your health insurance provider, so many plans steer clear of pre-existing conditions.

However, some policies do cover pre-existing medical conditions but at an added cost. Talk to an insurance expert, as they can advise you on the best solution based on your circumstances.

2. What is not covered by health insurance?

The most common exclusions found in health insurance plans include:

• Pre-existing conditions
• Chronic conditions
• Trial or experimental treatments and drugs
• Prescribed drugs
• Fertility treatments
• Sex change and organ transplants
• Cosmetic surgery and treatments
• Drug or substance abuse

It’s essential to note that policies differ from provider to provider, and what may be covered by one insurer may not be covered by another. Therefore, always contact multiple providers at a time and get quotes to compare and contrast what’s covered in each policy.

This way, you can find a comprehensive cover that meets your health needs.

3. Can I use my health insurance policy when travelling abroad?

Your health insurance plan only covers you while you are in the country. For example, if you purchased your cover in the UAE, you won’t get reimbursed if you fall ill when abroad. To ensure you’re covered during your trip, you need other types of insurance, like travel insurance.

The right travel insurance plan will cover medical expenses and emergency repatriations in the countries specified in your policy.

Ready to shop?

Now that you know more about health insurance, it’s time to shop. Use our resources here at Compare Insurance to compare health insurance quotes from various providers. You’ll get access to numerous plans, ensuring you find a policy that suits you.

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Health Insurance Travel Insurance

Are you over-insured, underinsured or just right?

Ideally, everyone wants to have as much travel insurance as they need to protect themselves from the risks of travelling abroad. Unfortunately, determining how much coverage you need can be difficult. That’s why many people are underinsured or overinsured instead of having the right amount of travel insurance.

Keep reading to find out how you can avoid both issues.

What’s underinsurance?

Underinsurance occurs when you don’t have enough insurance to cover your needs. It can occur due to several reasons, including:

• You haven’t updated or reviewed your travel insurance policy in years, yet your insurance needs have changed.
• You’ve paid for the least amount of travel coverage to save money on your premiums.

If the amount paid by your insurer after an emergency or accident doesn’t cover your expenses and you have to pay more money out-of-pocket, you’re most likely underinsured. This results in severe economic losses for you.

What’s over-insurance?

Over-insurance occurs when you purchase too much coverage, and the coverage exceeds the risk that’s insured. For instance, if you only travel once a year during the holidays, taking an annual policy is over-insurance as you’re paying for multiple trips.

The problem with over-insurance is that it increases your premiums, making your travel insurance costly.

How to avoid both

The best way to avoid over-insuring and underinsuring is by identifying your travel insurance needs so that you can pay for exactly what you need. For instance, if you’re going to partake in dangerous sports activities such as skydiving, you may want to get additional cover so that you’re safely insured from injuries. If not, skip it to avoid over-insurance from travel insurance providers.

Similarly, don’t insure refundable trip costs as it only raises your premiums. Instead, insure pre-paid and non-refundable costs.

All in all, know what you’re going to do and the risks involved, where you’re travelling to, and how many times you plan on travelling in a year before purchasing any policy.

Additionally, compare quotes from different insurers to know what’s covered and what’s not. This can help you get a better policy at a competitive price. You can use our resources here at Compare Insurance to compare policies from various providers.

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Health Insurance

5 common exclusions in health insurance policies

Travel and health insurance provide a protective net during medical emergencies by reducing the financial burden associated with hospital bills. However, many of us make the mistake of assuming that buying a health cover is sufficient and forget to read the fine print of the policy, which talks about coverage, waiting periods, exclusions and other important aspects. Today’s blog will be looking at the most common exclusions in health insurance policies.

Cosmetic surgery

Health insurance policies do not cover cosmetic procedures done to enhance your appearance. In some cases, however, the insurance company can cover cosmetic procedures for reconstructive surgery after an accident or injury when a registered medical practitioner suggests it.

Pre-existing conditions

A pre-existing condition is an illness or medical condition that occurs six months prior to buying health insurance coverage. They tend to be long-term and chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, asthma, sleep apnea, depression, etc. Although in the UAE, all health insurance companies are required by law to provide patients with pre-existing conditions with cover, chronic illnesses will most likely be excluded or limited from your plan.

Pregnancy and maternity care

Most general health insurance policies do not cover pregnancy and related treatments. That said, pregnancy and maternity coverage vary significantly between plans. In some cases, the delivery could be covered, but the pre-natal and post-natal are excluded, so confirm with your insurance provider about coverage. If pregnancy and maternity care are excluded from your plan, you can always buy a separate maternity insurance cover.

Alternative and experimental treatments

Your health insurance only covers you for well-established treatments that have undergone necessary clinical trials and experiments and are proven effective. If you wish to participate in clinical trials and other experimental treatments, you will have to cater for those costs on your own. Alternative treatments such as acupuncture, acupressure, homoeopathy, massage are also excluded from most health insurance plans.

Dental and vision

Treatments related to eyes, ears, teeth are excluded from most health insurance covers. As an alternative, insurance companies sell plans specifically for dental and vision or offer additional riders to your existing plan.

To compare the best health insurance policies, please check out our website or contact us today for more information.

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Health Insurance

Which medical conditions can lead to a rejected health insurance application?

Whether you wish to take out group medical insurance before a big holiday or to take better care of yourself and your family if the worst happens, there are many reasons to invest in medical insurance. However, it is a common misconception that if you apply for health insurance, your application will be approved. Health insurance applications are rejected quite often. To help you understand the reasons behind this, our health insurance experts at Compare Insurance have compiled this short guide.

What is the main reason for a rejected application?

The main, overarching reason for a rejected health insurance application is if the provider you are applying to thinks that you are too high risk. This means that it would cost the insurance company more to pay out for your needs than it would get from you in the long run. However, some companies will not just flat out reject you and may offer you outrageously high premiums that would just be impossible to pay.

Which medical conditions make you ‘high risk’ to a health insurance provider?

When applying for health insurance, it is beneficial to give a list of conditions that make you appear high risk to a provider a quick scan.

Obesity:

If you are obese or struggle with being overweight, this may be a reason why your health insurance claim has been rejected. This is as it is associated with a whole host of other health complaints. This includes – but is not limited to – Type 2 Diabetes, high cholesterol, high lipids or high triglycerides.

A history of cancer:

If your medical records show evidence of a history of cancer, this may mean that your health insurance application will be rejected. This is because of the added risk that cancer may come back in the future.

HIV and AIDS:

If you have been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS, this may make it difficult to receive health insurance as they are incurable conditions.

For more information on the factors that may mean that your medical insurance application will be/has been denied, contact our experts at Compare Insurance to find the right medical plans for you today.

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Health Insurance

What not to do when buying health insurance

As the Covid-19 pandemic has shown us, there are always risks to our health just through being alive. That is why it is so important to give yourself and any dependents you have some protection by taking out an online health insurance policy. Deciding on the right policy is not to be rushed through and there are things you should try to avoid doing.

Ending up with inadequate cover

This is a very common error and usually happens if you focus too heavily on getting the cheapest premium. Ultimately, the point of a health insurance policy is to provide you with the best possible protection, based on factors such as your age, state of health and family status. Choosing the policy with the lowest premium will be a false economy if it turns out not to cover your medical costs when needed.

Not reading the small print

Every insurance policy comes with a range of terms and conditions in small print. You may feel that it is a chore to read through all of these when you just want to sign and get on with your life, but failing to do so can be disastrous. This small print generally contains the exclusions that will tell you the circumstances in which the insurance company will refuse to pay. You want to find these out before you sign up, rather than when it is too late.

Covering up past medical history

People do this because they are worried that previous illnesses will prevent them from getting health insurance. It is a waste of time though, because if you are not truthful when signing your policy this will emerge when you have to make a claim and no insurer will pay out in that situation. Be honest and look for a company and policy that is prepared to offer you insurance based on the facts.

Not shopping around

Even when you have health insurance, you should keep checking online comparison sites to see if there are other providers offering the same coverage at a better price. It is worth the inconvenience of changing insurance companies if it stands to save you money.

Search Compare Insurance today to find the top health insurance in UAE at the right price for you.

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Health Insurance Travel Insurance

Countries that require you to have travel medical insurance

The world is slowly returning to a state of normalcy, with more and more countries opening up their borders to tourists. However, before you pack your bags, you’ll need to get travel health insurance. Here is a list of countries that require travel health insurance.

Schengen Area

To explore Europe, you may need to obtain a Schengen Visa. This is a visa that citizens from certain countries need to carry in order to enter the 26 European states of the Schengen area. To apply for this visa, you must provide proof of travel medical insurance covering hospitalisation, medical emergencies and repatriation in case of death. The policy must remain valid for your entire stay and have a minimum coverage of at least thirty thousand Euros.

Brazil

If you are going to be visiting Brazil by air for up to 90 days, you will be required to purchase a travel medical insurance policy that is valid in Brazil. All travellers must present proof of insurance before boarding, failure of which can result in denial into the country by Brazilian authorities. This requirement came about mid last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic and may only be temporary.

Thailand

Before planning your trip to Thailand, you must confirm your eligibility with your local Thai embassy. If eligible, the next step will be to obtain a certificate of entry. One of the requirements for this certificate is to provide proof of a travel health insurance policy that covers Covid-19 and emergency medical insurance. This is because any medical costs incurred in Thailand are charged to your medical insurance.

United Arab Emirates

Travellers age 12 and older wishing to visit Dubai and any other cities in the UAE need to provide valid travel insurance covering international healthcare during the entire duration of their stay. You will also be required to provide Covid-19 test results taken no more than 96 hours before your arrival. This requirement applies to all visitors regardless of whether you need a UAE visa or not.

To find the prices on travel insurance, use our website to compare prices and sports travel insurance.

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Health Insurance

Understanding health insurance terminology

One of the challenges most people face when buying individual insurance plans is understanding the sea of terminologies and acronyms. Having a bit of knowledge of the industry’s terminology is crucial, especially if you’ll be shopping without the help of a mortgage broker, so here are some of the most commonly used terms.

Premium

Premium refers to the amount of money you pay to your health insurance provider every month to maintain your coverage. This is one of the most important things you should consider when buying health insurance because it directly affects your affordability.

Copayment

Copayment or co-pay is a flat fee that you pay for medical expenses every time you visit the hospital. It is one of the ways that you share your medical costs, so if you have frequent doctor’s visits, ensure that you pick cover with affordable co-pay.

Deductible

This is the amount of money you must pay every year for covered services before your insurance policy starts paying. For example, if your deductible is AED 1000, you will have to pay the first AED 1000 of covered services yourself. Health insurance plans with lower deductibles offer more comprehensive coverage, but they will have higher premium costs.

Coinsurance

Coinsurance is the percentage of covered services that you will be required to pay after you’ve paid your deductible. For instance, if your insurer pays 80% of all incurred costs, then you will be required to pay the remaining 20%. Like the deductible, health insurance covers with lower coinsurance have higher premium costs.

Out-of-pocket maximum

This is the most money you have to pay for covered services in a plan year. After you spend this amount on copayments, coinsurance and deductibles, your health insurance company will now cover 100% of the costs of covered benefits. That said, it is important to note that the out-of-pocket limit doesn’t include monthly premiums or any services that your plan doesn’t cover.

When shopping for group medical insurance, pay close attention to these terminologies as they greatly impact your insurance costs. Compare different plans from different companies using our website to find the perfect one for you.

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Health Insurance

Why you should take out medical cover in your 20s

Life is full of uncertainties, and no one can predict tomorrow. As such, you must take measures to protect yourself from any risks. Health insurance protects you financially from health risks by reimbursing you for expenses incurred as a result of illness or injury. Taking out health insurance cover as early as your 20s is always advisable, and here are five reasons why.

Lower premiums

Health insurance companies calculate premiums based on the risks related to the buyer. The more health risks you have, the higher the premiums you will pay. Your body is in tip-top condition in your twenties, and therefore, you are less likely to develop any serious illnesses, especially for international student health insurance. Because you pose a lower risk to the health insurance company, you will be charged considerably lower premium amounts while still enjoying high health insurance coverage.

Tax benefits

Buying a health insurance policy can actually save you money. Money paid towards your health insurance premiums is eligible for tax deductions under the law, and the sooner you acquire a health insurance policy, the more money you will save.

Comprehensive coverage

Applying for health coverage in your twenties gives you a wider range of options to choose from. Since you are young, have no pre-existing conditions, and are likely to keep the policy for a longer time, health insurance companies will give you a more comprehensive deal. In addition, you’ll have the flexibility of changing the level of cover based on the changes occurring in your life.

Lower rates of rejection

Don’t wait too long to take out medical cover. If you develop a chronic disease in your 40s or 50s, you will be forced to pay high amounts of co-pay or you may not get health insurance cover at all. However, if you take a cover in your twenties, your health insurance application is almost guaranteed to be accepted.

No concerns about waiting periods

Most health insurance plans usually come with a 30-day waiting period, during which the insurer cannot make claims. In cases involving certain diseases, the waiting period might be as long as two to four years. Purchasing medical cover early on will benefit you because you serve the waiting period without needing the health coverage.

When buying medical indemnity insurance, you must compare different insurance packages. With a few personal details, we could help you find the perfect insurance package for you, so take advantage of our services today.

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Car Insurance Health Insurance Travel Insurance

When is the best time to search for cheaper insurance quotes?

Whether it’s home, car, travel, or health insurance we all want to enjoy the benefits of low cost car insurance. Searching for them is now easier than ever, but it’s important to know when you should start your search to give yourself the best chance of finding the best deal. For this, you’ll need to understand your existing insurance contract’s terms.

When should you start searching?

The best time to start searching for health, home, or car insurance is when your existing policy is about to come to an end. When you sign an insurance policy you’re committed for a period of time. Sometimes it can be monthly, but usually, it’s annually. When you’re coming to the end of your policy term you can begin looking around for cheaper quotes to see if you could save money. If you find a better deal elsewhere, you can present the evidence to your existing insurer and they may well try and match or beat it, or offer you other incentives to stay. Even if they don’t, you know you have a new insurer to go to who can provide you with cheaper cover.

If you don’t have an existing insurance policy you can start looking for cheap quotes whenever you like. If you’re looking for travel insurance it pays to start getting your quotes as soon as possible. As long as you know the dates you’re travelling from and your travelling plans are confirmed, you can arrange travel insurance cover.

How do you find the best quotes?

So finding the right quotes is best done at different times, depending on the type of insurance you’re looking for and the status of your existing cover. But when the time is right the best way to find those quotes is always the same – using a specialist insurance comparison website. By using a website like Compare Insurance, you’ll have access to quotes from a range of industry-leading insurers, all displayed in an easy to understand manner so you can choose the best quote for you.

Find cover that suits expat travel insurance today.

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