When we consider taking out private health insurance, we must take into account some aspects, such as coverage, gaps, and exclusions, to be able to choose the one that best suits our needs. In today’s article, we are going to talk about everything we should know before purchasing health insurance.
The number of people considering taking out private health insurance as a complement to public healthcare grows every year, as does the offer from insurance companies.
Given the wide variety of options that we have at our disposal, taking out private health insurance, a priori, does not seem like an easy task, but all could be possible with Granite Peaks Gastroenterology experts.
How To Take Out Health Insurance And Choose The Right One?
To choose health insurance that truly adapts to our needs, we must take into account important aspects that will give us information, both about what it offers us and what each policy limits us. These are the most important aspects that we should know before purchasing health insurance:
The Type Of Insurance
The first aspect that we must evaluate before contracting health insurance is the type of insurance to contract. Is insurance with a co-payment, in which the monthly premium is lower but we pay a fee for each service received, or without co-payment, where the premium is higher but includes all services, better suited to us? Depending on the frequency with which we go to the doctor, one type or another of insurance may suit us.
There is also reimbursement insurance, a modality within medical policies that allows us to access the doctors and private health centers we want, paying in full for the visit but later recovering part of the invoice amount.
The Coverage Included And Its Limits
Mutual health insurance companies offer us different types of insurance, depending on the coverage that is included. Before taking out health insurance, we must carefully analyze the ones that best suit our needs, because, generally, health insurance includes coverage for the main specialties, such as general medicine, gynecology and obstetrics, pediatrics, nursing, rehabilitation, etc.
Not all companies offer the same thing or in the same way. On the other hand, does it cover hospitalization? What diagnostic tests and what type of dental coverage do they include? Therefore, another thing we must do before contracting medical insurance is to carefully check that those that interest us the most are included and know the limitations in terms of the number of sessions, and financial amount.
It is important to be very clear about what our insurance offers us and not be dazzled by attractive offers that do not meet our needs.
The Medical Chart
The medical team of a company is made up of the doctors or health centers associated with that company. If we are interested in a specialist or a specific center, it is useful to know whether or not it is included so as not to have to opt for a policy with reimbursement or assume the cost of the consultation yourself.
In this sense, it is also important to know what emergency services and centers the insurer offers and whether home assistance is included.
The Lacks
Before contracting health insurance, it is necessary to know what the waiting periods are for the various medical benefits. In order to prevent a person from contracting health insurance just to undergo a medical test, treatment, or surgical intervention and then cancel, health insurers establish waiting periods for certain services.
That is, a waiting time to be able to access them once the policy comes into force. The most common are those that affect pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, which usually lasts between six and ten months. If we plan to use some insurance benefits right away, we must know if it will be possible or not.
The Exclusions
Health insurance exclusions are the assumptions (illnesses, diagnoses, treatments, or physical conditions) that insurers will not cover in any case, so we must know if the policy includes these assumptions and what they are. They are common in health insurance and are specified in the policy contract.
Coverage of Previous Illnesses
It is common for the health insurance company to request that you complete a questionnaire about your current health status and medical history.
Certain chronic diseases, pathologies, or previous injuries that the policyholder presents before taking out the insurance may not be included in the policy or may cost us an extra premium. This is what is called “pre-existing diseases” and we must take into account, if we have them, whether or not they are covered before deciding to take out health insurance.
Age Limits
Some insurers increase the price of the policy after a certain age (approximately 65 years old), so it is important to take this point into account for the future.
