Insurance, Claims & Accidents

Archive for the ‘Healthcare Insurance’ Category

Unexpected illnesses and injuries on holiday can be terrifying. Not only is it daunting to be treated in an unfamiliar country, but it can also be incredibly expensive, which is why it is essential for your travel insurance to adequately cover medical procedures.

When booking your holiday, it is worthwhile to research the medical care available to British tourists in the country you plan to visit. European holidaymakers fill out European health insurance cards—previously E111 forms—that entitle travellers free or reduced medical care in every country in the EEA. The UK also has reciprocal agreements with some other countries outside of Europe. In the case that a British tourist requires healthcare, they will be treated in the same way as a resident of that country.

This does not mean travel insurance should be completely forgotten when travelling in these countries. Healthcare may vary compared to the NHS, and certain treatments or procedures may not be free as they are in Britain. However, adequate travel insurance can cover these extra costs. Furthermore, unplanned travel back to the UK can be incredibly expensive, and these costs can be covered by the right insurance.

Be aware that America does not have any reciprocal agreement in place with the UK, so travel insurance is essential for a stateside visit. Moreover, an American hospital can refuse to treat you if you do not have sufficient cover; therefore, the right health insurance can not only save money, but also save unnecessary financial stress and worry.

It is recommended that insurance should cover up to £1 million for European holidays and £2 million for international travel.

There are many advantages to be enjoyed by taking out a health insurance policy.  Just having the peace of mind that unforeseen injuries or illnesses can be dealt with speedily is often cited as the greatest comfort to policyholders.

One of the areas that causes most dissatisfaction among NHS patients is that of waiting lists. It is an unfortunate circumstance that demand for services at most NHS hospital departments cannot always be met within an acceptable timeframe.  Having health insurance in place allows for the bypassing of excessive waiting times and ensures rapid and comprehensive treatment in a private hospital or private room, along with access to services when you require them, not when the service can fit you in. 

It is also becoming increasingly common to hear stories of hospitals being unable to provide treatments for specific illnesses, due to the high costs involved. Too many people have been told that the drug they need is unavailable to them as the service is unable to afford it, despite it being the treatment most appropriate for their condition.  Angry at such procedures and feeling utterly neglected by the system, many people are turning to private health insurance to access the treatment they require.

Private hospitals are generally smaller and more personal.  Treatment and recovery areas, wards and rooms are spotlessly clean and the risk of contracting one of the hospital superbugs or common infections, post-surgery, is reduced.

Being treated in privacy and maintaining dignity is paramount.  Being treated as a person and not a condition is crucial to one’s overall wellbeing whilst hospitalised.

Given the availability of free health care on the NHS what are the actual benefits of private health insurance?

While the NHS does strive to bring care as quickly as possible, the resources are limited particularly in the current economic climate.  There are many instances in life when waiting on results and treatment can be a long, painful process; health cover provides a prompter service.  You and your family can enjoy the comfort of knowing that in difficult circumstances you are guaranteed a swift response to test results.

Whereas under the National Service there may be limited bed spaces in hospitals, private care will make a far wider choice of hospitals available in much more comfortable surroundings.  The added assurance of private rooms equipped with en suite bathrooms are a soothing aid to the recovery process.  Added to that, the specialists and consultants look after your needs with increased dedication, emphasising individual care and doctor-patient interaction.

Other perks include AXA’s devoted cancer support telephone, Bupa’s 24-hour nurse health line offering medical guidance or Aviva’s offer of 40% gym membership discount all aimed at maximising customer services.  Another very significant benefit is the access to groundbreaking drugs and equipment that the NHS can no longer afford.

There is an increase in specialised treatments for cancer, stroke and heart conditions including some essential cover packages from leading health insurance providers.  If you are diagnosed with any of these terrible conditions the benefits of reduced waiting times, faster diagnostic tests, access to sophisticated equipment such as MRI and CT scans will ease stress through an extremely difficult period.

In today’s world health insurance is increasingly becoming a necessity rather than a luxury.

Health insurance is a compelling topic that is becoming more popular as the national provision of health services becomes more fragmented and the opportunities for private healthcare increases. 

Many companies are now eager to seek private healthcare insurance for their employees to maximise the employee’s efficiency and ensure that they can recover from sickness as quickly as possible.  One of the reasons that private healthcare has become popular is that it ensures a level of service above that which the state provision alone will provide.  Whilst there are many different private healthcare insurers who offer a range of services for their healthcare products, many have similarities. 

Common features include prompt access to appropriate treatment without the cumbersome inconvenience of waiting lists.  Some healthcare insurance may provide extensive coverage of facilities for widespread conditions such as cancer.  Another feature that many insurers offer is quality treatment from specialists and consultants within the field.

A straightforward claims service aimed to reduce the potential hassle in the event that you are unwell is another benefit.  Some provide a guarantee of facilities that are clean and sterile, reducing the patient concern of post-operative complications such as MRSA.  Some healthcare contracts will also offer access to groundbreaking drugs that have not yet been approved by the state system.  Not every insurer features all of these benefits, although many do.  In the event that questions arise about the specific coverage provided by insurance, the insurer should be contacted.  It is important to read the full policy and ask questions about anything that is unclear.

Before you take out a private health insurance policy, you should look at the exclusions on the documentation.  You may find that something you want treatment for is excluded.

Exclusions are those conditions that insurers will not cover.  These include chronic, long-term or recurrent conditions or diseases such as asthma, multiple sclerosis, pregnancy, sterility and infertility, cosmetic surgery, treatments abroad or experimental treatments.  Long-term treatments such as kidney dialysis are usually not covered.

A pre-existing condition is one that has been diagnosed or treated before you start a new health insurance policy.  Insurers do not cover any condition that you have had in the last five years, although some insurers will cover you for these conditions if you are totally clear of them when the policy starts.  Incurable, recurrent diseases will always be excluded from a policy.  Treatment for long-term illnesses is usually excluded and you cannot take out a policy to cover you for an operation that you know you will need in the future.

There are some specific conditions insurers refuse cover, such as alcoholism or drug abuse, infertility or pregnancy, dental problems, cosmetic surgery or HIV and AIDS.  These exclusions can also include self-inflicted injuries, outpatient drugs and dressings, gender reassignment, mobility aids, organ transplants, war injuries and injuries from dangerous hobbies.

If you join a group plan provided by your employer, pre-existing conditions will be covered as long as you were insured for the previous 12 months.

It is often easier for a company to recruit good employees if it offers private medical insurance along with a good occupational pension scheme.  This is also a good way to keep valued employees from being lost to competitors who offer higher salaries.

Many employers realise that they are as responsible for the health of their employees as the employees are themselves.  Employees see private medical insurance as an even better benefit if it includes their families, even though this might not cost the employer much more.

Private medical insurance policies can work in different ways.  Some allow the employees to choose their own healthcare providers, while others insist that they use their own accredited healthcare professionals and hospitals.  Some insurers pay the employee directly instead of paying the hospital bills, which means that the employee could travel abroad to get cheaper treatment.

The most important benefit of private medical insurance is that the employee can avoid the long waiting times and inconvenient appointments they can suffer with the NHS.  This means that the employee will not miss as much work through illness, which is much better for both the employee and employer.

Private medical insurance is a taxable benefit.  If the employee uses the insurance, they will have to pay tax on the amount they receive, whether it is for themselves or a family member.  The employer will have to pay Class 1 National Insurance Contributions as well.

Critical illness health insurance or permanent health insurance will help to replace any income you lose if you suffer a permanent disability or a long-term illness.  This type of health insurance will pay out if you get a certain illnesses such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, bypass surgery, kidney failure or major organ transplant.  In the United Kingdom, there are more than one-million people who have been unable to work for more than a year due to medical problems.

A critical illness health insurance policy will pay you a regular sum to replace part of your income when you cannot work for a long period of time.  In the United Kingdom, state benefits such as statutory sick pay and incapacity benefits only pay enough to cover a minimum standard of living.  A critical illness health insurance policy can help keep you at the standard of living in which you are accustomed.

The price of a critical illness health policy premium depends on the benefits you need.  The maximum pay-out from a critical illness policy is usually 60% of your earnings, minus state benefits, though some companies have a limit on the annual payment.  The bigger the percentage of your income you want to protect, the higher your premiums will be.

The cost of the premiums is also dependant on how soon after the illness or disability has started that you want the benefits to begin.  For the self-employed, this is usually four weeks.  For employed people, this will depend on how long your employer pays full wages; the longer this deferment period, the lower the premiums.

When choosing a health insurance plan, you should consider a few important factors beforehand. All private health insurance companies will offer a number of different options in their plans. Deciding which plan best matches your needs will ultimately enable to rest assured that costs can be the last of your concerns if you or a family member falls ill.

Pre-existing Conditions

Do you have a past medical health condition? You may wish to discuss this with your health insurance company before you select them. Some companies may not pay for medical bills that are the result of a condition you had previously. Remember to make sure you fully understand what the company will cover before to decide to take out a plan with them.

Conditions Covered

Some companies may have policies designed to exclude particular illnesses. Some conditions, such as psychiatric care, may not be fully covered in a health insurance plan. Occasionally, you may even find plans may not cover pregnancy or labour and delivery. These are special considerations that you should discuss with the company before purchasing their plan.

Co-Payments

Certain companies may ask you to make a co-payment. A  co-payment is certain amount of money you will be required to pay at each doctor or hospital visit. The cost of these payments may vary. Seeing a specialist or having to stay in the hospital may require a higher co-payment. Discuss this with your health insurance company before you go to the doctor or hospital, in order to guarantee you are aware of the fees and will not be left with an unexpected expense.

Thanks to the internet, purchasing products and services is now easier than ever before.  It is convenient, you’re not going to get stuck in traffic, and you don’t have to deal with the crowds.  The same holds true if you are attempting to purchase healthcare insurance online.  However, just like with any other product or service that you are shopping for, there are certain precautions that you need to take in order to ensure you get what you pay for.  Below are three key tips to consider when you are purchasing healthcare insurance over the internet:

Tip #1:  Always check the company’s background – assistance and selection are definitely key factors to consider, but so is reputability.  You want to make sure that the insurance provider you are dealing with can easily provide you with all their necessary credentials.

Tip #2:  Customer service and quality support are a must – although you may never have to file a claim with your insurance carrier, you need the peace of mind that comes with knowing that they will be available whenever you need them.  Look for the most courteous, knowledgeable, and professional customer service levels possible.

Tip #3:  Look for their approval and quality ratings – licensed, reputable agents and their companies are usually rated by certain organisations that protect the consumer from certain issues such as fraudulent activities (scams), low quality consumables, and dangerous consumer products.  Look for approval by certain consumer advocacy groups such as A. M. Best, BBBO (Better Business Bureau Online, or TRUSTe.