When you decide to enroll for international health insurance, it usually involves an extensive decision process. Indeed, some international health insurance plans can behigh-priced and therefore used to be selected carefully. Moreover, you want to be sure to choose the right coverage for your specific needs. Living away from your home country and understanding the healthcare system of a new country can be challenging.
In order to help you fully understand your current or future international health insurance plan, MSH China has decided to clarify commonly used insurance.
International Health Insurance
The aim of an international health insurance is tocover you, your family, or your employees over long-term trips abroad and/or expatriation. International health insurance can provide reimbursement for many different types of events that can be incurred during the policyholder's travels abroad, including health care and other medical expenses.
A minor surgery in China without insurance coverage can be very expensive and upfront full payment is usually necessary. This is why it is important for a person to be insured inorder to avoid paying thousands of dollars, or forgo a medical procedure due to financial concerns.
International health insurance covers:
- Medical visits
- Hospitalizations and medication
- Medical assistance
- Repatriation
Other benefits can be added such as maternity, vision,dental, and wellness care.
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The first question you'll be asked when choosing an international health insurance plan is whether you desire to have inpatient coverage only or both in-and outpatient.
Outpatient means daily treatment received from doctors or specialists, including prescriptions and related exams (X-ray, blood test, RMI etc.) as long as symptoms are shown. This is typically referring to occasions when a patient visits a hospital for treatment without staying overnight.
You need to see adermatologist because your skin's been itchy for the last few days - this requires anoutpatient visit.
You have fever, sorethroat, back pain, or any other body pain = this requires anoutpatient visit.
Inpatient are treatments that require a hospitalization or surgery. That alsoincludes critical illnesses such as cancer and related treatments. The patient isadmitted to the hospital for at least 24 hours.
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Another important point to consider when you're looking for health insurance is the deductible. Indeed, this can make the price of your premium (the monthly or annual fee for your insurance) vary significantly.
The deductiable is the fixed amount of money you pay for a health insurance claim before the insurance coverage comes into effect and the insurance company starts paying for you. Once you have paid your deductible, the insurance company will pay for the rest of the claim value up to the policy limits according to the policy terms and conditions
* If you have adeductible of $100 and plan to have a surgery that costs $300.
* You will have to pay $100.
This is "per claim deductible", medical expensesare coveredper treatment.
An annual deductible is the second option you may choose.All your medical expenses are covered during the policy period after you have reached your annual deductible amount. Any amount in excess of the annual deductible will be payable by the insurance company.
* If you chose an annual deductible of $15,000 and you need to have a surgery which costs $14,000, you will pay the entire bill by yourself without the intervention of your insurance company. However, if you only have other medical expenses the same year $30,000, for example, you will have to pay $1,000.
A co-payment is based on a percentage you choose to pay forany medical expenses.
If you choose a co-payment of 20%, you will always have to pay 20% of the bill with the remaining amount being paid by the insurance company.
International health insurance plans generally offer two options for provider coverage:
Public hospitals & private hospitals/clinics: Top public or private hospital/clinic will be covered by your plan. Many public hospitals have a "VIP wing" or "International wing". Private hospitals have typically better facilities, English-speaking doctors and staff, and a similar level of service to you would receive back home.
High-cost providers: this option allows you to go to private high-cost hospitals/clinics. This option increases your premium.
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Direct billing is an arrangement between hospitals/clinics and a health insurance company. This method authorizes the medical service providers to send their bills directly to the health insurance company for payment. The patient is not billed and not required to file the claim. In addition, there is no need for advanced payment, either.
More questions?
Please feel free to ask us if you have any other questions concerning international health insurance that might not have been explained above. We will be more than happy to answer!
internationalteam@mshasia.com
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The information contained in this article is provided by MSH China.
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