Categories
Health Insurance

What is health insurance and what does it cover?

Health insurance is sometimes known as private medical insurance and will cover the costs of all the benefits of private healthcare. This includes diagnosis, treatment, and everything in between. This is normally covered by monthly payments. One of the major benefits is quick and easy access to medical treatment, without being added to the bottom of a long waiting list. However, some insurance companies offer low cost health insurance with benefits which people are not aware of. Here, we fill you in:

Cover for mental health conditions

Mental health is a big issue in modern society, but luckily, it is being talked about more and more. Health insurance companies take measures to help people improve their mental health and decide on the right people to talk to. You can be immediately referred to a therapist or consultant without having to sit on a waitlist, which can be months long. Some insurance companies also offer mental health services over the phone.

Access to breakthrough cancer drugs

All health insurance companies will support someone at each stage of their journey if diagnosed with cancer. This support is quicker and more personal. Some health insurance companies, however, will also provide access to any breakthrough treatments and cancer drugs before they are available for wider use. You might even have access to these treatments before they are officially approved, as long as there is sufficient evidence for their safe and effective use. Health insurance can also be crucial for catching cancer at the very first signs, as it allows you to get checked out immediately without wasting any valuable time.

Digital GPs

While some aspects of healthcare have been drastically affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, health insurance can allow you to speak to a GP from home, meaning you are never left without help. While other healthcare providers also offer this service, it is unlikely to be for 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also book live video appointments for a more personalised experience.

If you’re interested in taking out health insurance cover, visit Compare insurance where you can efficiently compare quotes. For more information or advice, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Photo: Free image by Pixabay
Categories
Health Insurance

A quick guide to health insurance in the UAE

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.

Photo: Free image by Pixabay