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Travel Insurance

Everything you need to know about travel insurance and pre-existing medical conditions

Travel insurance is intended to cover you for any mishaps and accidents that may occur whilst you are on holiday. It should cover your luggage, reimburse you for cancelled flights, and cover any unexpected medical expenses. If you have a pre-existing medical condition, however, it is crucial that you find the best travel insurance with medical conditions for you.

What is considered a pre-existing condition?

Insurance defines pre-existing conditions as illnesses or injuries that you had before taking out the policy. This includes both physical and non-physical conditions, including but not limited to, cancer, epilepsy, diabetes, anxiety, and depression.

Pregnancy is not usually considered a pre-existing condition, and your insurance should cover you for any medical emergencies related to the pregnancy. There are also some restrictions about how late into the pregnancy you can travel, so always check with the insurer to make sure that you are covered.

How much are insurance premiums?

Medical costs are the most expensive type of claim made against travel insurance, and as a result, insurance for people with an existing condition tend to be higher. The effect on the premium will depend on your condition. Unfortunately, some insurers may not cover certain conditions at all, however, there are specialist insurers that will be able to help you out.

Do I need a medical examination?

Some insurers may insist on a medical examination to get cover, and others may simply ask you several in-depth questions about your condition. Whilst these are invasive questions that can be uncomfortable to answer, they are necessary to enable the insurance company to tailor the cover to your needs.

Why should I declare a medical condition?

It is crucial that you declare any pre-existing medical conditions on your policy. If you don’t declare the condition and then go on to make a claim related to this condition, your claim may be rejected, forcing you to cover the costs yourself.

Travel insurance is a critical investment for anyone, but especially for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions. At Compare Insurance, we can help you to compare travel insurance policies from a range of providers. Simply use our search engine to find and compare the best options 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

What are the three main levels of health cover?

If you’re looking for visitor health insurance, it’s important you understand the types of coverage available to you. There’s no “one size fits all” approach to health insurance, there are many different policies and options depending on your budget and circumstances. Understanding those is key to finding the right policy for you – so what do you need to know?

The three main levels of health insurance

Health insurance can generally be broken down into three distinct categories:

  • Basic insurance – This will cover you while you’re in the hospital as an inpatient. It will usually cover your treatment and any associated costs
  • Medium insurance – This will have the same coverage as basic insurance, but will also cover the costs that you accumulate as an outpatient
  • Comprehensive insurance – Aside from your inpatient and outpatient medical expenses, comprehensive care will also cover mental health and physiotherapy

Which level of cover is right for you?

There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to finding health insurance, all that matters is you get the level of coverage that you actually need. You have to weigh up the potential bills you could encounter against the monthly premiums for your cover.

There are many things to consider relating to your lifestyle, any pre-existing issues you may have, your genetic risk for certain conditions, and much more. It’s not a decision you can take easily, so it’s important to consider everything when you’re choosing the right healthcare insurance option for you. The cheapest option may seem the most appealing now, but it could prove to be inadequate should you find yourself in a position where costs are spiralling.

Finding the perfect health insurance package

If you’re looking for the ideal senior citizen health insurance cover for you, the best thing to do is compare available insurance packages. To do that quickly and conveniently, you should use a dedicated insurance comparison tool, such as Compare Insurance. With just a few personal details, you could find your perfect medical insurance package in just a few minutes. Whichever level of health insurance is best suited for you, use Compare Insurance to find it today.

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Health Insurance

What do the different types of health insurance mean?

In some parts of the UAE, such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai, it is a legal requirement for residents to have health insurance. For the majority of people, health insurance is acquired through an employer, however, that is not always the case. So, here is a guide to the different levels and types of health insurance providers available:

What levels of health insurance are there?

There are three levels of health insurance to consider when comparing policies: basic, medium and comprehensive. There are usually price differences between the different levels, but this is because they offer different amounts of cover for healthcare-related costs. In general, the more you pay, the more cover you have.

A basic health insurance policy will cover you for treatment and related costs if you’re an inpatient in a hospital. A medium-level policy includes everything covered at a basic level, as well as outpatient care on top of that. A comprehensive insurance policy offers the highest level of cover. These types of policies include everything covered at a basic or medium level, plus cover for mental health and physiotherapy. Weighing up the amount of cover you need and how much you can afford to pay is a key way of choosing the right health insurance policy for you.

What types of health insurance policy are there?

As well as a range of levels, there are a variety of health insurance policies intended to cover different people. This means you can choose between an individual, joint, family or child policy, depending on your situation and needs. For example, taking out a joint policy to cover a couple will likely be better value for money compared to taking out two individual policies. Similarly, if you’re planning on expanding your family with a child, you may want to consider a family or child health insurance policy to prepare for their arrival.

If you’d like to know more about the different types of health cover available in the UAE, contact us today. A member of our team will be happy to help you compare policies and find the best medical insurance for parents.

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Health Insurance

What’s the difference between health insurance and medical insurance?

When you’re looking for insurance that looks after you physical and mental wellbeing and welfare, you need to be aware of the acute difference between medical insurance and health insurance. These types of insurance aren’t interchangeable, but their respective terms are often used interchangeably, so it’s a good idea to know exactly what each insurance type entails to enable you to find the right coverage from the top health insurance companies.

Medical insurance

Medical insurance is strictly applicable to being hospitalised and any treatments undertaken in a hospital. This means that any aftercare is not accommodated for, leaving it up to you to cover any additional expenses or ongoing treatment outside hospital grounds. It’s a much less flexible option than health insurance, although far better than having no insurance at all.

Health insurance

Health insurance is far more comprehensive, covering your health in totality, from appointments at the GP to aftercare, such as rehabilitation if you’ve had an accident where you’ve been severely injured and any prescription medication. Health insurance is therefore a better choice if you have ongoing health problems, as you don’t have to consider a longer-term financial impact for a pre-existing condition or severe accident or illness.

How do I know which choice is right for me?

Health insurance and medical insurance work for different people, based on factors including:

– Age: health insurance is better for those over 50, who are naturally more susceptible to unexpected illness.
– General health: if you have a history of medical conditions, then it’s wise to get health insurance.
– Financial security: if you’re fortunate to be in a position where your finances are secure, then medical insurance is adequate to cover the basics.

It’s important to note that health insurance also covers the areas that medical insurance policies offer, though it’s worth checking with your provider to ensure that all hospital treatment is covered before you commit to a policy.

Speak to us today

For medical insurance and health insurance in UAE, get in touch with CompareInsurance today to find the policies and insurers that suit your health needs.

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Health Insurance

What to know about claiming on health insurance

If you’ve had an accident or illness abroad, you will want to claim on your health insurance. But when is the right time to do so? Some companies only refund, whereas others will pay upfront. And, if you have only had to pay a minimal amount, your insurance company may not pay at all! Here are some tips on how to know when to claim on your insurance.

Read your policy carefully

It’s important to know exactly what your policy includes when you buy it. If you read it carefully, it will tell you a lot of important things. These include:

Your excess – this is the amount that you must contribute up to. If you pay less than your excess, then your insurance will not cover it. You can generally reduce or even eliminate the excess by paying for a more comprehensive insurance package.

Whether the insurance pays upfront – for some things, you might be able to just give your insurance details. In other cases, you may have to pay and then the insurance will compensate you. Don’t worry – for very expensive things, you can normally just give your insurance details.

Speak to the admin staff when you arrive at hospital

If you are able to, contact the payment staff when you first get to the hospital. This is when you should make them aware that you have insurance and work out whether you will be paying upfront or if the insurance will pay them directly. Use this as an opportunity to find out roughly how much the total bill will be too – medical care can be very expensive in some countries and this will avoid any nasty surprises!

Make sure that you don’t leave without paying or signing

In some hospitals, it can be easy to walk out without paying. Make sure that you do make a payment or sign a form stating that your insurance will pay, otherwise you could be given a hefty fine.

If you know exactly what your mediclaim insurance policy entails, you should have a good idea of how much and when they will pay.

Categories
Travel Insurance

3 holidays that make travel insurance more expensive

When looking to go on holiday, travel insurance is a must. Being insured for the unforeseen is essential for a stress-free trip. There are many levels of insurance that are available, depending on what kind of trip you have planned. If you are going on a standard beach holiday, for example, most holiday insurance will cover you for the basics. However, there are some types of activity holidays that can increase your insurance premium. This is largely due to the increased risk of you needing to claim on your insurance. These are known as ‘optional’ or ‘add-on’ costs and they allow for more comprehensive and specific cover.

Here are the top 3 holidays that will increase your insurance costs.

Winter sports

Comprehensive medical insurance is essential for a ski or snowboard holiday. Broken legs or fractured bones can ruin a trip, but you don’t want to be burdened with spiralling hospital costs as well. Alongside medical cover, an extra travel insurance add-on will ensure you’re covered for such eventualities as piste closures, lost lift passes, and associated ski equipment hire, amongst other things.

Golfing holiday

Alongside winter sports, a golf holiday needs a special mention on your travel insurance. If your equipment and clubs are stolen, lost or damaged, or if you don’t make it onto the course, you will be compensated for the costs you incur. Replacement golf equipment hire and the reimbursement of green fees comes as standard too.

Going on a cruise

This additional cost to your insurance premium is a must if you are going on a cruise. Loss of valuables and baggage will often only be covered with this add-on premium. This insurance is very specific and can even cover you if you are unexpectedly confined to your cabin.

One way to off-set these add-on costs could be to increase your excess, which is a term used to describe the money you pay before your insurance pays the remainder of the cost. Be sure to compare all the different travel insurances out there to get the best possible price.

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Health Insurance

Why should you invest in the best medical insurance you can?

Health insurance is an essential consideration for obvious reasons – if you’ve experienced a health issue or you have had an accident, the last thing you want to be worried about is your finances. Too many people, however, settle for a base level of cover thinking that it will cover them for everything. It won’t.

If you want the best coverage, you should invest in a comprehensive policy.

What kind of things does your health insurance cover?

Medical insurance is a broad category, and it can cover a wide variety of things. It can cover anything from compensation to medical bills to medical costs. If you invest in a base level of cover, you may not have access to a particularly high payout limit, and the circumstances in which you’ll be paid out at all might be quite limited. Good health insurance coverage is that which provides an appropriate amount of cover for every eventuality.

Of course, it’s impossible to be covered for everything – so how do you find the best health insurance policy? It’s a question of understanding the odds and finding the circumstances you’re most likely to experience, then ensuring you’re covered. For example, if you have a pre-existing health condition that may develop complications, be sure that’s covered. Or as another example, make sure you’re covered for accidental injury if you encounter risk during the course of your work.

Where can you find the most comprehensive deals?

If you want to ensure you’re getting the broadest coverage possible, you should always look online. Health insurance companies can offer the best deals possible to online customers, but how do you find them? The answer is simple – by using a comparison tool. A comparison tool can take your one application and use it to generate quotes from a wide range of insurance providers before presenting them to you in a simple and easy to read format. This allows you to find the best quote.

Ensuring you have the most comprehensive level of coverage that your budget will allow will give you great peace of mind, so use a comparison tool like Compare Insurance to find your ideal quotes today.

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Car Insurance Health Insurance

How can you find cheap insurance companies to provide you a quote?

When it comes to finding the right insurance deal, whether it’s car insurance or the best medical insurance, you want to make sure you’re getting the best possible value. Finding cheap insurance companies to provide you with a quote that’s actually suitable for you can be easier said than done, however, which is why you need to think about looking online.

Using a comparison tool, you can find the perfect affordable insurance deal.

How does finding insurance online actually work?

The internet is a big place, so how do you actually go about finding the quotes you need? The answer is by using a dedicated comparison tool in order to narrow down the potential offers and leave you with those that are suitable for you. It’s a simple process, all you do is make an application online for the type of insurance coverage that you want.

With that, the application is presented to numerous insurance companies who will come back to you with their quotes. These quotes can be provided almost instantly, meaning you don’t have to put your life on hold while you wait. The quotes will be listed conveniently for you to decide which is the best – with that done, you can apply in moments!

Why do online insurance companies offer cheaper quotes?

So how do those online insurance companies save you money? It’s simple – it’s much cheaper to operate an online-only business than have to incur the costs associated with running a building too. That means they’re able to save money that they can pass on to you as a customer. Online insurance companies are also acutely aware of the competition that they’re in with each other to offer the best deals, so they are constantly monitoring their offers and adjusting them in order to remain competitive.

If you need an insurance quote that doesn’t skimp on coverage, but won’t break the bank, you’ll find it by going online and using a comparison tool. You can get quotes from a range of insurance companies, all of which are tailored to your needs and your budget – make your application with Compare Insurance today to see for yourself.

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Car Insurance Health Insurance

What actually is a comparison tool, and how does it work?

If you’re looking for a range of quotes for all manner of things, you will likely have run into comparison tools. They are getting more and more popular, and with good reason. Whether you’re looking for auto insurance near me, medical insurance plans, student insurance, or a host of other quotes, a comparison tool can help.

But what is a comparison tool, and how does it actually work to find those quotes?

The basics of comparison tools

A comparison tool operates on a simple principle. The comparison website partners first with multiple providers of the service they are looking to promote. A customer then makes an application through the comparison tool, and the tool then presents that application to the appropriate partners who provide that service.

The applicant then gets a number of responses in return in the form of quotes for the application they have made, ranging in price. Some comparison tools are completely automated and the quotes can be generated instantly, others actually encourage their partners to individually assess each application to provide the best quote.

From that, the applicant can decide which quote is best for them, their budget, and their needs. They accept the quote and the application is already made with the provider, it’s just a case of providing confirmation of details.

What are the benefits?

So now you know the basics of how comparison tools work, why should you use one? The first benefit is that it makes it much quicker to get a range of quotes. There’s no need to make applications with each provider individually, instead, you just make the one application and they will provide you with a range of quotes in return.

The second is that it makes it much easier to compare and contrast the best deal for you. Whether you are looking for specific coverage or you need something that fits tightly within your budget, you’ll find it.

The best way to learn about how a comparison tool can help you is to use one and see for yourself. If you need an insurance quote, try out Compare Insurance today.

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