Category: Health Insurance

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Health Insurance

Can I get tested for Covid-19 in UAE?

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If you’re worried about a persistent cough, breathing problems, high temperature, or can’t shake off a cold, it’s possible you’ve been infected by the new coronavirus. Individuals that have recently returned from overseas, and people from vulnerable groups need to be particularly careful. Although coronavirus testing is available for walk-in patients, drive through coronavirus test centres have also been established.

About the UAE drive through test centres

Drive through test centres are now available in Dubai Festival City and Abu Dhabi. Current test station locations include Al Qusais, Discovery Gardens, and Silicon Oasis. Further test stations are planned at International City and Al Warqa.

It’s not currently possible to check out all UAE citizens at this moment. Of course, if you do have the virus, it is important you get tested as soon as possible, so you need to take the following steps:

How to get tested for Covid-19 at the new UAE drive through centres

1. You’ll firstly need to complete the online health assessment tool to confirm you’re eligible for testing. At the moment the priority is to test the most vulnerable citizens, and people displaying symptoms within 14 days of return from overseas. The online chatbot walks you through the assessment, and is designed to pick up all indications of added vulnerability, such as hypertension or pregnancy. Your recent contact history will also be examined, so it’s important to be open about any contact you’ve had with other people already diagnosed with coronavirus.

2. The chatbot also provides detailed advice about action you should take, including quarantine or self isolation.

3. Your self assessment test will indicate whether you need to chat further with one of the available doctors. If this is the case, you will be forwarded for a tele-consultation and may also be given an appointment to attend your local drive through Covid-19 testing station.

4. If you are eligible for Covid-19 testing, simply arrive at the designated test station at the time of your appointment. You will be given a nasal swab by the nurse at the second checkpoint, and there is absolutely no need to leave your vehicle at all.

5. You will be advised of the results of your test within two or three days, and should self isolate until your Covid-19 test results are received

Your drive through Covid-19 test will cost Dh425 and this could possibly be covered by your existing health cover. We’re proud to offer all UAE residents the best guide on comparing health insurance, find out more about insurance in the UAE at Compare Insurance today!

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Health Insurance

What are the key factors which affect your health insurance premium?

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One of the most common things for people around the UAE to take out is international health insurance. Having a comprehensive health plan in place not only gives you peace of mind that you are covered in the case of any emergencies but also that your family is too. Of course, the key thing is to shop around for the best health insurance package which gives the cover you need. The cost which any cover incurs will usually be decided on by insurance companies after finding out a few important details about you.

But what are the most important factors which could affect the price of cover?

Pre-existing conditions

Health conditions prior to opting for an insurance policy have a major impact on the health insurance premium. Some insurers provide 100% cover for the pre-existing conditions based on the severity of the health declaration and at a higher premium than standard policy whereas there are other insurers who cover pre-existing conditions only after a certain duration of waiting period, which is in most cases 6 months.

Hospital Network

Insurance companies operate a network of healthcare providers in the country of their operation. Network of hospitals and clinics have a major impact on the health insurance pricing as most insurers have a tiered network list. The different tiers of hospitals are separated by level of service, reputation & pricing. In order to avail direct billing services, the chosen hospital / clinic should be in the network list of the insurer against that health plan. For any treatment which is not in the network list of hospitals, the treatments are done on a cash reimbursement basis. It is therefore, highly advisable to choose an insurance company that covers major hospitals in their network to avail direct billing services.

Deductibles / Co-insurance

This is the amount that the insured person pays each time they avail the medical insurance benefits. The higher the contribution of the insured person, the lesser is the health insurance premium. It is usually either Nil, 10%, 20%, 20% max. AED 50 or AED 100.

Age & Gender

The health insurance premiums are rated on an age basis with elder people being quoted a higher premium amount. Older people also require more health care than younger people and so could cost insurance companies more.

Females usually having a slightly higher premium band owing to potential maternity claims.

Smoking

One thing that can really bump up health cover for UAE residents is whether you smoke or not. Those who do smoke cigarettes or use tobacco products will normally pay more for their cover. This is not only applicable if you currently smoke in many cases but if you have done so within the last 12 months. The reason for this is the greater chance people who smoke have of getting serious conditions like cancer which could then incur costly treatment.

How many people are covered

Many people with families will often take out a plan which covers everyone. This makes sense as you will often pay less than taking one out for each person individually. Putting more people on your health insurance though will bump up the monthly cost. This is because there are more people being protected on the plan which insurance companies may have to pay out against.

Compare health insurance in the UAE

Now you know what type of factors can influence how much you could pay for UAE health insurance, you need to find the best deals around. Rather than manually trawling the internet for hours though, why not let Compare Insurance help? We bring together all the most attractive health insurance plans around the UAE in one place for you to consider.

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Does my UAE health insurance cover me against Covid-19?

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Global panic in stock markets around the world, as well as the World Health Organisation’s concerns about the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus), are causing many UAE residents to query whether their current health insurance cover provides essential protection. If your existing health insurance is provided by your employer, you’ll need to speak with your manager or occupational health team about this; however, the CompareInsurance team has issued this update for anyone in the UAE with private health care insurance.

Worried about UAE health care insurance cover against Covid-19?

You will already have seen and read lots of news stories about Covid-19, and Gulf News is running a story about ways to protect yourself against catching the virus while at work or travelling. One of the most common queries about the virus relates to health insurances, and whether cover will be available. This will all depend on the type of medical health insurance you have. The quickest way to discover if you’re covered is to get in touch with your insurer direct – this is especially vital if you’ve recently returned from countries like China, Iran or Italy.

It’s likely that your health care insurance will cover you for treatment if you do develop Covid-19, as it is a viral infection. Some individuals do have medical exclusions noted on their Certificates of Insurance. For example, if your Certificate has an exclusion for any respiratory conditions or any pre-existing condition that could be impacted by Covid-19, then you may not be covered for diagnosis or treatment if you develop the infection.

Income protection insurance can help if you need to self-isolate

Many Dubai and UAE employers are stressing the importance of self-isolation if you have worries about visits to areas that have already been severely affected by Covid-19. One way to protect your income throughout any long term self-isolation is via an income protection plan. Just so long as your existing health insurances don’t include medical exclusions, an income protection policy could be the perfect insurance protection needed. You can browse our website to discover more, or chat with one of our experts online to discuss any issues or concerns you may have.

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Health Insurance

Health insurance: which plan is right for you?

Have you been looking at health insurance plans but don’t quite understand what they entail? Don’t panic, instead allow us to go through everything you need to know, which will hopefully help you with making your choice.

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Health insurance plans tend to come in four different categories. Generally speaking, these are Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Depending on which plan you choose, the rate you pay will change accordingly.

How they work

Each plan has a different amount that you are required to pay. There is normally a fixed monthly amount that you pay for your health insurance – known as the premium – as well as an additional amount to pay when you need to make a claim. Below are some estimates for how the costs will be split when you make a health insurance claim:

Bronze: insurance company pays 60%, you pay 40%
Silver: insurance company pays 70%, you pay 30%
Gold: insurance company pays 80%, you pay 20%
Platinum: insurance company pays 90%, you pay 10%

Which plan is for you?

If you take out a Bronze plan then you will be paying the highest amount of all the plan levels each time you see a doctor, or you are given a prescription. The latter is known as and sometimes referred to as an ‘out-of-pocket cost’. The Bronze plan also means you pay the lowest monthly premium.

At the other end of the scale, the Platinum plan involves you paying the lowest to see your doctor or for your prescriptions, but this comes with the highest monthly premium in return. The Silver and Gold plans fall in between these two extremes.

Summary

In simple terms, the more care you require should dictate which health insurance plan you go for. If you are someone who requires a lot of medical help or large insurance cover, such as a sportsman, a student, or a family with lots of children then the Platinum or Gold plans are for you, whereas if you do not require much medical help or assistance then you should probably consider the Silver or Bronze plans.

To get health insurance quotes, or to compare plans from different providers, why not go to this link to find the best deal for you.

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Health Insurance

A quick guide to health insurance in the UAE

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Although UAE healthcare is free for all citizens, expats working in the Emirates often struggle to meet medical costs, particularly dental charges; so much so that many expats prefer to fly back to their country of origin for any kind of dental treatment. What’s more, UAE citizens and expats alike find it difficult to access the specialist and high tech services available at Dubai Healthcare City without medical insurances. Although all employers are legally obliged to provide health insurances, the cover provided may not be adequate and does not cover family members and dependents.

If you’re considering taking out private medical insurance in the UAE, there are lots of different things to consider. First off, you’ll need to decide whether to take out a fully underwritten health insurance plan or opt for a moratorium plan.

What’s the difference between moratorium health cover and fully underwritten health insurance?

The main difference between the two policies is that fully underwritten health insurance requires you to provide your insurer with your entire medical history – this choice can work out cheaper over the long term and may offer far more medical insurance than a moratorium policy. Here in the UAE, a fully comprehensive insurance of this nature can be the best way for speedy access to more specialist, private healthcare.

With a moratorium policy, you simply need to complete a questionnaire, giving a limited amount of detail to your chosen insurer. This can be a much simpler way to insure your health, but it may not offer the extensive coverage you’d acquire with fully underwritten insurance. The choice between the two comes down to your budget and own health history.

Specialist health insurance

You can also opt for specialist medical insurance, which simply covers against certain treatments or in specific criteria. Examples include medical insurance for over 50s and medical insurance for specific conditions. This type of insurance can help you to compile the medical coverage you need, while also relying on any free services in your locality for any other medical conditions. One major benefit of specialist medical insurance is that it can help you skip the queues for a range of treatments and diagnostic tests, such as CT scans, knee or hip replacement surgery, and cataract surgery.

What does private health insurance cover?

You’ve probably already recognised that different private health insurance policies offer varying service models. You can rely on most policies to cover you for inpatient care at any time you need to overnight in a hospital setting. Although outpatient treatments also tend to be covered by most policies, the amounts that can be claimed back are very different as caps are often in place.

In addition, some insurance policies cover the costs of drugs that are not readily available locally, and may also provide some cover for psychiatric care. If you already have a pre-existing medical condition, your insurance premiums will be impacted, although it is still possible to source the policy you need.

Check out Compare Insurance now to discover the wide range of policies available in the UAE and worldwide.

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Health Insurance

Factors to consider when shopping for health insurance

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In this day and age, medical insurance is a basic need. In most countries, a trip to the hospital can really set you back financially. Buying health insurance, especially if you have a family, can be an uphill task. Here are some important factors to consider before purchasing any package.

Claim process

This is probably one of the most important things to look for when shopping for insurance. Some companies take forever to process your claim and your settlement. What good is an insurance package if you cannot use it when you need it? When it comes to selecting a health insurance company, the faster the better.

Family health insurance

If you have a family, you should select a more inclusive package. Your family medical history, as well as any present ailments, should be put into consideration. If one of your family members suffers from a disease that requires frequent trips to the hospital, I recommend taking a personal health care plan for them so that the family insurance policy does not become too expensive.

Network hospitals

When buying insurance, always check the insurance company’s network of cashless hospitals. You should check which company has the highest number of hospitals closest to you in their policy. Cashless hospitals also ensure that you are able to receive the best medical care possible without worrying about the bill. All your medical expenses are billed directly to the insurance company.

Look out for treatment-wise limits and co-pays

Some insurance companies limit the amount you can claim for diseases such as cataracts. Treatment-wise limits cap your claim regardless of the amount of money you have insured under the policy. Also, make sure you check the insurance policy co-pay. Co-pay is a standard amount of the bill that you have to pay on your own anytime you make a claim.

Coverage amount

Health insurance does not come cheap. Before deciding on the coverage amount you want to spend, think about your long-term health costs. Your co-pay ratio, your deductibles, monthly premiums, and coverage amount should help you make the decision. Make sure not to spend too much or too little when it comes to health insurance. If unsure of how much you should pay, visit our website for more information.

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