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The Insider’s Guide To

Buying The Perfect International
Health Insurance Policy
BrokerFish




        The Insider’s Guide To Buying The Perfect
        International Health Insurance Policy
        This eBook provides an insider’s perspective on the knowledge of how to make a well-informed choice
        when it comes to buying an expatriate international health insurance (IHI) policy.


        Whether you are in the market to buy a policy, are considering a switch, or are generally just looking to
        learn more, our goal is to provide you with the knowledge that is critical to ensuring that you have all the
        necessary information to make sure you’re on the inside track.


        Besides providing you with an overview of the positive aspects of IHI, we’ll explains some of the pitfalls
        which can occur and which tend not to be highlighted by Insurers, empowering you to avoid them.




        Worth reading? We think so.
        What our guide will not do is convince you of the merits of a particular insurance policy or insurance
        company. Instead, we will educate you on how you can find the best policy for yourself.


        By the end of this eBook you will be able to answer:

             What is international health insurance all about anyway?
             What are the answers to some of my FAQs?
             How can I choose and buy a policy that works for me?
             How do I get the best value for money?
             How can I protect myself against unpleasant surprises?
BrokerFish




       Table of Contents
             Why Pay For IHI?

             IHI Basics
         5   What is it?
         5   Key features
         6   Benefit options
         7   Insurance jargon
         8   Eligibility
         8   Buying IHI
         9   Going direct


             Choosing The Right Policy
        10   Step 1 – First things to consider
        11   Step 2 – Select a suitable level of cover
        14   Step 3 – Go fishing for policies
        15   Step 4 – Submit an application


             So, Now You’re Covered!
        16   What’s included in my membership pack?
        16   What happens if I’m unconscious and I’m rushed to hospital?
        17   Making a claim
        18   Will my premiums go up?
        18   How to keep premiums down
        19   Exclusions & limitations


             Before You Take The Plunge
        20   Annual limits
        21   Waiting periods
        22   Pre-existing conditions
        23   Developing chronic conditions while insured
        23   Differences between IHI, local and travel plans
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                         Why Pay For IHI?
           Why Pay For International Health Insurance?
           It’s all about certainty.




                                                                                                                         IHI Basics
           Many people don’t really understand the basic purpose of health insurance even after they have
           purchased a policy. Here are some reasons why subscribing to an international health insurance policy
           makes sense:




                                                                                                                         Choosing The Right Policy
           Reduce financial risk                                     Receive World Class treatment
           Out of pocket medical expenses resulting from             Having a good international health insurance
           serious injury or illness can be devastating.             policy provides access to World Class provider
           Having a good health insurance policy can                 networks ensuring that you are in the very best
           literally save you from bankruptcy.                       hands should you become ill.



           Worry less                                                Be healthier




                                                                                                                         So, Now You’re Covered!
           If the worst happens, you will have the peace of          Regular health checks are a common feature of
           mind knowing that your future is not dependent            international health policies. Identifying health
           upon state health systems or goodwill of family           problems early can help prevent serious issues
           and friends.                                              developing.




                                                                                                                         Before You Take The Plunge
                                   “Isn’t it too        “Not always. In fact, international

                                   expensive to         health insurance can be surprisingly

                                   buy coverage?”       affordable. On average, BrokerFish

                                                        clients pay as little as $158 per month.”




4
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                                    Why Pay For IHI?
           Let’s Get Started - IHI Basics
           What is it?
           Irrespective of nationality, gender or income, more and more expats recognize the need for an




                                                                                                                                    IHI Basics
           international health insurance policy.


           In essence, international health insurance (IHI – also sometimes called private medical insurance – PMI)
           is:”




                                                                                                                                    Choosing The Right Policy
                         ..insurance that is designed to cover the costs of private medical
                         treatment for expatriates overseas.



           A basic IHI policy, provides medical treatment and reimbursement of medical expenses in the event of
           disease, illness or injury and which aims to return you to the state of health you were in immediately
           before suffering from the incident.




                                                                                                                                    So, Now You’re Covered!
            What are some key features of a typical IHI policy?

                       Flexible Options                                       Mobile Cover
                       From budget emergency cover to hazardous               BrokerFish health policies cover you wherever
                       sports cover, BrokerFish plans are highly              you are in the world and are available to people
                       flexible and can be tailored to suit your lifestyle.   from over 200 different countries.




                                                                                                                                    Before You Take The Plunge
                       Provider Network                                       Cashless Settlement
                       Insurance companies have partnerships                  Insurers will arrange for direct billing with major
                       with thousands of hospitals and hundreds of            hospitals so that you don’t need to pay out and
                       thousands of doctors.                                  then reclaim the cost of your treatment.




5
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                         Why Pay For IHI?
           What are the typical benefit options of IHI policies?
                   In-Patient                                         Out-Patient
                   The most basic form of international health        Out-Patient refers to treatment provided in the
                   cover, In-Patient refers to treatment received     practice or surgery of a medical practitioner,




                                                                                                                         IHI Basics
                   in a hospital where an overnight stay is           therapist or specialist and does not require the
                   necessary.                                         patient to be admitted to hospital.




                   Maternity                                          Dental




                                                                                                                         Choosing The Right Policy
                   Provides cover for medical costs incurred          Routine dental includes an annual dental check-
                   during pregnancy and childbirth, including         up, simple fillings related to cavities or decay
                   hospital charges, specialist fees, pre and post-   and root canal treatment. Complex dental
                   natal care, midwife fees as well as newborn        includes gum disease treatment, orthodontics
                   care.                                              and dental prostheses.




                   Well being                                         Vaccinations
                   Encourages good health through early               Refers to immunisations and booster injections
                   detection of serious illnesses. Includes things    in addition to the cost of consultation for




                                                                                                                         So, Now You’re Covered!
                   like cancer screening, vital signs tests and       administering the vaccine.
                   cardiovascular system testing.




                   Evacuation                                         Repatriation
                   Evacuation covers you for transport costs to       Repatriation, allows you the added benefit of
                   the nearest suitable medical centre, when the      returning to your home country to be treated in
                   treatment you need is not available nearby.        familiar surroundings.




                                                                                                                         Before You Take The Plunge
                   Long-term care                                     Optical
                   Care for people that suffer from chronic           Includes things like laser eye surgery, eye
                   illness or disabilities and who cannot care for    tests, spectacle lenses and contact lenses.
                   themselves for long periods of time.




6
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                     Why Pay For IHI?
           Need-to-know insurance jargon
           Premium                                               Lifetime Maximum
           The money you pay to the insurance company.           The “Lifetime Maximum” is a cap on how
           Premiums are paid monthly, quarterly, semi-           much the insurance company will pay for your




                                                                                                                     IHI Basics
           annually or annually.                                 claims over the total duration of your policy.


           Deductible / Excess                                   Co-Insurance
           The amount of money that you must pay before          Refers to the shared amount of money that




                                                                                                                     Choosing The Right Policy
           the insurance company will start paying for           you are obligated to pay for covered medical
           medical expenses. They can be per incident,           services/treatment. In the table of benefits, you
           per insurance period or per year and applies          may see something like: “Dental - 20% Co-
           separately to each person insured by the              Insurance”. This means that you must share the
           policy. Not all policies require a deductible, but    cost of dental treatment costs with the Insurer
           choosing a policy with a higher deductible will       where you will pay 20% of the bill and the
           lower your premium.                                   Insurer will pay the remaining 80%.


           Moratorium Cover                                      Policy Wording




                                                                                                                     So, Now You’re Covered!
           Sometimes, pre-existing conditions are initially      The policy wording is the legal description
           excluded, but can be covered after a set time         of the insurance policy and explains the full
           (the moratorium cover period), provided you’ve        terms and conditions of the coverage provided,
           not suffered any symptoms or needed any               including all applicable exclusions, conditions
           medical advice or treatment relating to the           and limitations of cover.
           condition.



                                 “I have more                   “Refer to the BrokerFish.com




                                                                                                                     Before You Take The Plunge
                                 jargon questions.              glossary for jargon-busting

                                 Where can I find               definitions on over 150 IHI

                                 more definitions?              terms. Click here”




7
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                              Why Pay For IHI?
           Who is eligible to buy international health insurance?
           International health insurance policies are open to expatriates of all nationalities. Professionals, students,
           teachers, diplomats, retired couples and businesses are typical buyers of international health insurance.




                                                                                                                              IHI Basics
           IHI is designed for those living and travelling away from home. Some Insurers do have age restrictions
           depending on the particular policy in question of around 64 years old but there are providers that will
           insure people as old as 120!




                                                                                                                              Choosing The Right Policy
           How Do I Buy International Health Insurance?




                                                                                                                              So, Now You’re Covered!
           Via an Insurer                         Via an Agent                           Via a Broker
           If you buy direct, you will            Agents are usually able to provide     In additional to offering unbiased
           be advised on their range of           more options than by going direct      guidance and information on
           products only so you could easily      to only one Insurer, however,          a huge range of IHI options,
           miss out on buying a far more          agents are typically tied to a         brokers can also serve as
           suitable plan. You will also not       small number of providers and          advocates if you bump up against
           receive any independent help           can therefore only advise across       the system and don’t know
           if you have any problems with          a limited range of companies’          where to turn.




                                                                                                                              Before You Take The Plunge
           claims, service or any issues that     products.
           may arise.




8
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                        Why Pay For IHI?
           How does an insurance company decide how much to charge?
           Insurance companies will take into account a variety of factors to try to work out the correct price for a
           policy. Typically, age is the most important factor, but a whole host of variables will be considered.




                                                                                                                        IHI Basics
                                                                 Age
                                                Gender                          Area of
                                                                                 cover




                                                                                                                        Choosing The Right Policy
                                            Payment           Premium
                                                                                   Benefits
                                           frequency
                                                                Price



                                               Country of                        excess
                                                residence                          /
                                                                               deductible
                                                              Pre-existing
                                                               conditions




                                                                                                                        So, Now You’re Covered!
           Can I save money if I buy direct from the insurance company?
           No. Insurers use brokers to market their products and will not discount their prices for customers that
           go to them directly. In fact, if anything, going to a broker ensures you will get the best deal available.
           Insurers know that a broker will advise their customers based upon a comparison with other plans in the
           market and therefore try to ensure that their prices are extremely competitive. If they didn’t, they would
           never get any business from brokers!




                                                                                                                        Before You Take The Plunge
                                        “So if it doesn’t               “Brokers receive a commission

                                        cost me anything,               from the insurance company

                                        then how do you                 for any policy they put in

                                        make money...”                  place for you.”




9
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                             Why Pay For IHI?
            How do I choose and buy the right policy?
            If you’re confused when it comes to health insurance, believe us when we say that you are not alone!
            There are dozens of different insurance companies, hundreds of different policies and literally thousands
            of different policy options, all wrapped up in cryptic insurance language which can be time-consuming




                                                                                                                             IHI Basics
            and confusing to figure out.


            It’s no surprise that many people tend to put sorting out their health insurance on the back burner,
            even though they know it is hugely important. In this section we’ll try to make your life a little easier by




                                                                                                                             Choosing The Right Policy
            coaching you on how to select a policy that’s right for you. Let’s get started!



            Step 1 - First Things To Consider
            The best place to start is with yourself. What we first want to figure out is exactly what you need from
            an international health insurance policy. This will tell us a lot about what kind of cover you require. How?


            Make a list of your priorities                            Who’s applying?
            What should your policy cover? What kinds of              Who do you want to cover? Will everyone be living in




                                                                                                                             So, Now You’re Covered!
            things are absolutely necessary and what are              the same country? Will anyone on the policy require
            luxuries? Maybe you want to ensure you’re covered         coverage in the US or Canada?
            for hazardous sports. Perhaps maternity cover is
            a priority. Or you may want a policy that is geared
            towards emergency cover rather than day to day
            coverage.




                                                                                                                             Before You Take The Plunge
            Health & lifestyle                                        Money matters
            Are you healthy? How often did you visit the doctor       What is your budget? Would you prefer to pay
            last year? How much did you spend on health care          monthly or save money by paying annually? Would
            last year? Does your family have a trend of medical       you want to lower your premium by choosing a policy
            illness? What is your medical history? Do you have        with a high deductible? Or one with a high level of
            pre-existing or chronic conditions?                       coinsurance?




10
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                          Why Pay For IHI?
            Step 2 - Select a Suitable Level of Cover
            Traditionally, insurance companies offered various levels of cover with names such as Standard,
            Intermediate and Comprehensive. Although this format is still common, nowadays some insurers will
            also allow a level of customisation across their policies which enables you to tailor something more




                                                                                                                          IHI Basics
            closely to your needs.


            To keep things simple, let’s look at the traditional levels of cover and what they typically provide.




                                                                                                                          Choosing The Right Policy
            Standard Cover
            Standard insurance policies typically provide cover for In-Patient costs only. This means cover for
            staying overnight in a hospital when it is deemed a medical necessity. In-Patient normally includes things
            like emergency care, diagnosis and nursing costs. Standard cover is ideal for people on a budget or who
            want to provide cover for catastrophic situations rather than for day to day issues.


            Some standard policies will also include cover for day-patient treatment. This is when you receive
            treatment which requires a supervised recovery period, but does not require an overnight stay.




                                                                                                                          So, Now You’re Covered!
            Hospital costs vary widely depending on where you are based in the world. Even a few nights stay can
            incur large costs, so making sure your basic policy provides good In-Patient coverage is vital. Also, check
            that the ‘Annual Plan Limit’ (which is the maximum the insurance company will pay out during a year of
            coverage) is sufficiently high. On entry-level plans this can often be quite low and may not be enough for
            your country of residence.




                                                                                                                          Before You Take The Plunge
                                      “If I buy a standard          “If after some time you find

                                      policy now, can I             that you need more or less

                                      change my level of            cover, you can change when

                                      cover later?”                 you renew your policy.”




11
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                              Why Pay For IHI?
            Intermediate Cover
            As well as In-Patient cover, Intermediate plans will add Out-Patient Cover. This is treatment which
            does not require an overnight stay or a supervised recovery period. A common example would be a
            consultation with a doctor. Intermediate plans will also offer increased plan limits over Standard plans.




                                                                                                                              IHI Basics
            There is a lot of variety between plans in terms of what is / is not covered. Your list of priorities will help
            you to work out which plans are likely to be the most suitable.


            Comprehensive Cover




                                                                                                                              Choosing The Right Policy
            These top of the range policies provide the greatest levels of cover and the highest plan limits. In addition
            to In-Patient and Out-Patient cover, they will often include things such as maternity, complex dental and
            optical cover.

            Extra Modules
            For your convenience, some insurers allow you to choose to add certain modules to enable you to
            tailor your level of coverage. Examples will include modules for travel insurance or for personal accident




                                                                                                                              So, Now You’re Covered!
            expenses.

            Policy Options
            These are variables that you can control in order to further sharpen the match between your
            requirements and the policy. Typical choices here include things like:

                  How much excess / deductible you want to pay;
                  If you would like to co-pay for benefits and on what terms;
                  Hospital accommodation;




                                                                                                                              Before You Take The Plunge
                  The hospital-network you have access to.


                                       “Are policy                  “Yes, correctly configuring your

                                       options really               policy options to match your

                                       important?”                  requirements can have a huge

                                                                    impact on the cost of your policy”




12
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                      Why Pay For IHI?
            Excess / Deductible
            An excess / deductible is the amount of money that you must pay before the insurance company will
            start paying for medical expenses. They can be per incident, per insurance period or per year and apply
            to each insured member of the policy separately. Choosing a policy with a higher deductible will lower




                                                                                                                      IHI Basics
            your premium.


                                                       Selecting a deductible




                                                                                                                      Choosing The Right Policy
                    Brian loves underwater diving. He’s a fit lad and rarely gets sick. Looking back over
                    the previous year, he finds that he only went to the doctor once to cure a bad ‘flu. He
                    wonders what kind of policy and deductible would be sensible to keep his premiums
                    low while still being covered for serious injury due to a catastrophic diving accident.




                    Upon investigation, Brian chooses a Standard plan and then has the option to significantly
                    increase the deductible. Looking at the table of benefits and premium rate table PDFs he




                                                                                                                      So, Now You’re Covered!
                    finds the following information:



                         Maximum Sum Insured                         $2.7M
                         In-Patient Treatment                        “Full Cover”
                         Monthly Premium ($0 deductible)             $162.69
                         Monthly Premium ($1,500 deductible)         $88.74




                                                                                                                      Before You Take The Plunge
            Brian now has to decide whether to accept the high deductible in return for a much lower premium. By
            choosing the high deductible he would save nearly 50% of the premium, but if he does suffer a severe
            medical emergency, he would have to fund the first $1,500 of any claim himself.




13
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                                    Why Pay For IHI?
            Step 3 - Go Fishing for Policies
            Now that you have a good idea of your needs, it’s time to go out and find what is most suitable. And this
            is where the services of a good broker or agent really come in.




                                                                                                                                    IHI Basics
            A specialist’s knowledge of a wide range of IHI policies will really cut down
                                                                                                          Take a deeper look:
            the time that you spend finding potential policies and they may find policies
                                                                                                          Get personalised quotes
            from insurance companies that you missed altogether. They can also review                     sent to your inbox now
                                                                                                          by visiting our
            your requirements and circumstances to ensure you’ve not missed anything




                                                                                                                                    Choosing The Right Policy
                                                                                                          quotation page
            and point out any shortcomings in the plans that you may be considering.


            Using a specialist like BrokerFish will provide you with a selection of the most suitable plans, laid out in a
            way that makes them easy to compare.




                                Example of a quote comparison from BrokerFish




                                                                                                                                    So, Now You’re Covered!
                                                                                                                                    Before You Take The Plunge


14
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                               Why Pay For IHI?
            Step 4 - Submit an Application
            From here, we can submit an application form to the insurance company. Sometimes this can be
            done online, but more often than not, it will mean completing a paper application form. Submitting an
            application does not necessarily mean that your application will be automatically approved. Instead it




                                                                                                                               IHI Basics
            will go through an “underwriting” process where the insurance company will look at your case and
            determine if, according to their risk policy, you are insurable. If required, a broker such as BrokerFish
            can help you to complete the application at no extra charge. After a few days to a few weeks, you will
            receive one of the following responses:




                                                                                                                               Choosing The Right Policy
            “You’re approved!”                                         “You’re approved, with conditions.”
            Most of the people who apply through BrokerFish            The insurance company may offer you coverage but
            are approved. Once approved, your health insurance         limit benefits for specific conditions based on your
            coverage will begin on the “effective date” as             medical history. Or, the insurer may offer to include
            confirmed by the insurance company.                        certain medical conditions by charging a higher
                                                                       premium.




                                                                                                                               So, Now You’re Covered!
            “More information is required.”                            “Your application is denied.”
            Sometimes, the insurance company will ask for more         Although rare, applications are sometimes denied.
            information regarding your application, and                If this happens, there may be a reason to appeal
            may request medical records from your doctor before        the decision. If not, we can help you to apply to a
            coming to their final decision.                            different insurance company or we may be able to
                                                                       recommend alternative health care solutions.




                                                                                                                               Before You Take The Plunge


15
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                        Why Pay For IHI?
            So, now you’re covered!
            What’s included in my membership pack?
            Paper or digital, and either posted or downloaded, the insurance company will provide you with:




                                                                                                                        IHI Basics
                  Your Membership Card;
                  Your Insurance Certificate;
                  A Table Of Benefits detailing what kind of benefits that you are entitled to and their limitations;
                  Medical provider network documentation;
                  A Membership Guide;




                                                                                                                        Choosing The Right Policy
                  A Treatment Guarantee Form;
                  A Claim Form.




            What happens if I’m unconscious and I’m rushed to hospital – will I always
            be treated / covered?
            If you are insured there should be no problem. It’s very important to carry your insurance membership




                                                                                                                        So, Now You’re Covered!
            card with you at all times. Keeping it in your wallet or purse will make it easier to find if medical
            personnel need to locate your personal details so they can liaise with your Insurer in an emergency
            situation.




                                                                                                                        Before You Take The Plunge


16
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                       Why Pay For IHI?
            What if I need to make a claim?
             1.   Always make sure you understand what is, and is not, covered;
             2.   If the treatment is on an In-Patient basis give the Insurer sufficient notice so they can approve
                  and put in place a treatment guarantee (direct payment arrangement) with the hospital/clinic;




                                                                                                                       IHI Basics
             3.   Always carry your IHI card on your person. If a patient is admitted in a critical condition and
                  cannot communicate, they will be searched for identification. In some countries and hospitals,
                  having your insurance card in your wallet can also help to ensure that you receive the best
                  treatment;
             4.   Make sure that you are not excluded from cover on the basis of a pre-existing condition or you




                                                                                                                       Choosing The Right Policy
                  are still subject to a ‘waiting period’;
             5.   Make sure that you have not exceeded your benefit limit;
             6.   Be honest and disclose fully when applying for your Insurance. If you try to conceal a previous
                  or existing condition and the Insurer finds out, they may not only reject the claim you are making
                  but can also void your policy. This means they could ask you to repay any previous amounts paid
                  under the policy, or take steps to recover from you any such payments.”
             7.   For out-patient treatment, check whether your insurer has a direct billing arrangement in place
                  with the hospital or clinic;




                                                                                                                       So, Now You’re Covered!
             8.   Always keep your original receipts and ensure that, if you need to complete a claim form, all
                  sections are completed, the treating Doctor has signed where necessary and the form has been
                  correctly stamped and dated.




                                                                                                                       Before You Take The Plunge


17
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                          Why Pay For IHI?
            Will my premiums go up?
            As people get older they typically need and receive more medical treatment and, as such, premiums for
            IHI tend to increase with age. In addition to this, premiums are likely to increase due to:

                  The steady year-on-year trend of more and more people making claims;




                                                                                                                          IHI Basics
                  The increasing sophistication and cost of treatments;
                  Increasing wage growth in the healthcare sector;


                  Increasing losses suffered by insurers due to fraudulent claims being recovered by increased




                                                                                                                          Choosing The Right Policy
                  premiums across the board;



            Are there ways to keep my premium costs down?”
            There are several things that you can do that can help to keep down the cost of your insurance.


            Don’t claim!                                              Policy options
            Some Insurers now offer a no-claims discount              Increasing your excess / deductible or increasing




                                                                                                                          So, Now You’re Covered!
            policy. Investigate this with your insurance              your co-pay options can save you up to as much
            company to see if you are eligible.                       as 60%.


            Go back to basics                                         Can you enrol in a group scheme?
            Are you paying too much for benefits that you             Joining or creating a new group scheme can
            don’t really need?                                        often significantly reduce the cost of insurance
                                                                      for each member of the group.




                                                                                                                          Before You Take The Plunge
            Consider switching insurer                                Pay annually
            A lot can change in a year. On renewal, take              Insurers offer significant discounts for yearly
            some time to investigate if switching to another          payments.
            insurance company or policy is wise.




18
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                              Why Pay For IHI?
            What your IHI policy will not pay for
            All IHI policies come with a list of things that will not be covered (exclusions) and a list of restrictions on
            the benefits. Common to many IHI policies are the following exclusions:




                                                                                                                              IHI Basics
            1. Treatment outside the geographical area                   6. Treatment for sexually transmitted
               of cover.                                                     diseases.

            2. Over the counter drugs such as vitamins,                  7. Self-inflicted injuries which can also
               minerals or dietary supplements.                              include alcohol or substance related abuse.




                                                                                                                              Choosing The Right Policy
            3. Medication that can be purchased without                  8. Experimental medications and
               a doctor’s prescription.                                      experimental treatments.

            4. Plastic or similar surgical procedures carried            9. Investigations into, or treatment of, sleep
               out for wholly cosmetic reasons.                              disorders, including apnea and insomnia.

            5. Injury, accident or illness resulting from                10. Medically unnecessary treatment.




                                                                                                                              So, Now You’re Covered!
               natural disaster, war or terrorism.




                                                                                                                              Before You Take The Plunge


19
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                            Why Pay For IHI?
            Before you take the plunge..
            When considering IHI policies, there are a number of things to bear in mind.


            Annual Limit




                                                                                                                            IHI Basics
            All IHI policies will have a total policy payment limit. Once you reach this limit, no further reimbursements
            will be available. If you haven’t got a sufficiently high annual policy limit, you could be caught out:


                                              Bitten by a dangerous spider in Bali!




                                                                                                                            Choosing The Right Policy
                     Anne has a basic policy with a $50,000 annual limit. On holiday in Bali she gets bitten
                     by a dangerous spider! The nearest quality medical facility that can provide the vital
                     treatment is in Singapore and as such she needs urgent medical evacuation.



                               Medical support in Bali:               $10,000
                               Air ambulance                          $25,000




                                                                                                                            So, Now You’re Covered!
                               Medical treatment in Singapore         $20,000
                               Annual Limit                         - $50,000

                               Anne pays:                             $5,000



            The medical expenses in Bali, the evacuation costs and resulting treatment in Singapore exceeds the
            $50,000 annual cover limit meaning that she needs to pay for costs in excess of her $50,000 annual
            limit.




                                                                                                                            Before You Take The Plunge
            Buy a policy with a reasonable annual limit to help avoid such scenarios.




20
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                        Why Pay For IHI?
            What are “Waiting Periods”?
            Some policies apply a “waiting period” for specific benefits. This simply means that after you buy a
            policy, cover for certain benefits will only be available after the waiting period has expired.




                                                                                                                        IHI Basics
            Typical examples of waiting periods for IHI plans are:

            Maternity                      10-12 months
            Dental                         6-9 months




                                                                                                                        Choosing The Right Policy
            Well being                     12 months
            Pre-existing conditions        24 months




                                                      Meet Angela & Denis


                     Angela and Denis are uninsured and are planning to start a family in the near future.
                     Should they take out a policy today to cover pregnancy or should they wait until Angela




                                                                                                                        So, Now You’re Covered!
                     becomes pregnant?



                      Buy now and become                                   Angela is covered for the entire
                      pregnant 10-12 months later                          duration of her pregnancy

                     Buy later when Angela is 6                            Angela will not be covered for the
                     months into her pregnancy                             entire duration of her pregnancy




                                                                                                                        Before You Take The Plunge
            As you can see, in order to receive full maternity cover you would need to put the policy in place before
            becoming pregnant.




21
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                          Why Pay For IHI?
            What is considered a pre-existing condition?
            The BrokerFish definition as it relates to IHI is as follows:


                          Medical conditions or any related medical conditions for which one or
                          more symptoms have surfaced prior to commencement of cover.




                                                                                                                          IHI Basics
            Can I get cover for pre-existing conditions?
            In the past international health Insurers have excluded cover for pre-existing conditions. However, there




                                                                                                                          Choosing The Right Policy
            are now some Insurers that will look at medical history on a case by case basis and will try to cover pre-
            existing conditions. Expats with pre-existing conditions can consider the following options:

                  Excluding the condition from coverage;
                  Moratorium underwriting (waiting period until the condition subsides);
                  Premium loading; or
                  Medical history disregard.




                                                                                                                          So, Now You’re Covered!
            Having pre-existing conditions does not necessarily mean that your insurance rates will be higher. But,
            if the pre-existing conditions fits into a company’s definition for such, it may mean that those conditions
            will not be covered by your insurance or in return the Insurer will typically increase your premium cost
            (“premium-loading”) to cover their costs.


            If the condition is to be excluded from coverage then this means that you will not be able to claim for
            treatment of that condition or any related condition.




                                                                                                                          Before You Take The Plunge
                                 “What happens if I                 “If not declared it may be that not

                                 don’t tell the Insurer             only your pre-existing condition is

                                 about my pre-existing              not covered, but the insurer refuses

                                 conditions?”                       to pay for other issues due to the

                                                                    dishonesty of the application!”




22
BrokerFish




                                                                                                                            Why Pay For IHI?
            What happens if I develop a chronic condition while insured – will they
            refuse to cover this condition in future years as it is by then a ‘pre-existing
            condition’?




                                                                                                                            IHI Basics
            Some Insurers will provide full cover for chronic conditions as long as you remain insured with them,
            whereas others will have restrictions and limits. Chronic conditions can become very expensive and as
            the level of cover varies greatly by insurer, always make sure you understand what cover is provided.


            If this is an important consideration for you then speak to a broker before you take out a policy so they




                                                                                                                            Choosing The Right Policy
            can short-list suitable plans.



            What are the major differences between IHI, local and travel policies?
            This table compares IHI, local and travel policies. Please note that due to the range of plans available, the
            table gives an overview of the typical cover that each type of plan will provide:

                                                     International Policies      Local Policies        Travel Policies




                                                                                                                            So, Now You’re Covered!
               Designed for                                 Expats                  Locals            Holiday Makers
               Level of cover                                High                  Medium                   Low
               Maximum benefit limits                        High                  Medium                   Low
               Premium costs                                 High                  Medium                   Low
               Area of cover                              Worldwide                Limited              Trip Specific
               Benefit options                               Many                    Few                    Few
               Hospital accommodation                       Private            Public / Private        Semi-Private
               Full In-Patient Treatment                      Yes                  Limited                  Yes
               Renewability                                   Life                Per Year                Per Trip




                                                                                                                            Before You Take The Plunge
               Premium cost on renewal                     Standard               Standard               Standard
               Hospital network                           Worldwide            Country Specific         Worldwide
               Exclusions                                    Some                   Many                   Many
               Pre-existing conditions                       Some                 Excluded                 Some
               Language support                          Multilingual               Local               Multilingual




23
BrokerFish


 Further Resources




                                                                                                                                                                                           Why Pay For IHI?
 Get Quotes Now                                    Articles                           FAQs                     Glossary




 BrokerFish – we’re here for you




                                                                                                                                                                                           IHI Basics
 Contact BrokerFish for any assistance that you need. Whether you want impartial advice and assistance in finding the right policy,
 need help in cutting through the jargon or even need assistance in resolving a dispute with an insurer, we’re here to help.


 Our focus on providing cost-free, impartial advice, coupled with our outstanding customer service, is why our clients love




                                                                                                                                                                                           Choosing The Right Policy
 BrokerFish and why we continue to succeed.




 Contact us
 BrokerFish                                    Helpline:
 19A-LGF-1, UOA Centre                         Call us: +60 3 2162 4077
 19 Jalan Pinang                               Call back: click here
 50450 Kuala Lumpur




                                                                                                                                                                                           So, Now You’re Covered!
 Malaysia


 contact@brokerfish.com
 www.brokerfish.com




                                                                                                                                                                                           Before You Take The Plunge
  Limitation of liability                                                                           About us
  BrokerFish Buying The Perfect International Health Insurance Policy and the                       BrokerFish is a brand of Direct Health, a division of the Tenbridge Group Limited, a
  brokerfish.com Website contain information regarding product benefits, prices and                 licensed International insurance broker regulated by the Labuan Financial Services
  other product information. In no event will BrokerFish be liable for any damages,                 Authority, registered in Labuan at Brighton Place, No U0215, Jalan Bahasa, P.O. Box
  including without limitation special and/or punitive damages and / or consequential               80431, 87014 Labuan, Federal Territory of Malaysia, Registered No. BS200863.
  damages and / or losses or expenses arising from, out of or in connection with this               Tenbridge Group Limited is also a member of the Labuan International Life Insurance
  document or the brokerfish.com website. The information contained herein or any                   Association, Registered No. 200804-142.
  linked site or use thereof or inability to make use thereof by any party, or in connection
  with any failure of performance, error, omission, interruption, defect, delay in operation        The correspondence address for BrokerFish is 19A-LGF-1, Lower Ground Floor, UOA
  or transmission, computer virus or line or system failure, even if BrokerFish or any              Centre, 19 Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur 50450.
  agents and / or representatives thereof are advised of the possibility of such damages,
  losses or expenses.




                                                                © Copyright 2010 Tenbridge Group Limited. All Rights Reserved

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BrokerFish.com: Insiders Guide To IHI

  • 1. The Insider’s Guide To Buying The Perfect International Health Insurance Policy
  • 2. BrokerFish The Insider’s Guide To Buying The Perfect International Health Insurance Policy This eBook provides an insider’s perspective on the knowledge of how to make a well-informed choice when it comes to buying an expatriate international health insurance (IHI) policy. Whether you are in the market to buy a policy, are considering a switch, or are generally just looking to learn more, our goal is to provide you with the knowledge that is critical to ensuring that you have all the necessary information to make sure you’re on the inside track. Besides providing you with an overview of the positive aspects of IHI, we’ll explains some of the pitfalls which can occur and which tend not to be highlighted by Insurers, empowering you to avoid them. Worth reading? We think so. What our guide will not do is convince you of the merits of a particular insurance policy or insurance company. Instead, we will educate you on how you can find the best policy for yourself. By the end of this eBook you will be able to answer: What is international health insurance all about anyway? What are the answers to some of my FAQs? How can I choose and buy a policy that works for me? How do I get the best value for money? How can I protect myself against unpleasant surprises?
  • 3. BrokerFish Table of Contents Why Pay For IHI? IHI Basics 5 What is it? 5 Key features 6 Benefit options 7 Insurance jargon 8 Eligibility 8 Buying IHI 9 Going direct Choosing The Right Policy 10 Step 1 – First things to consider 11 Step 2 – Select a suitable level of cover 14 Step 3 – Go fishing for policies 15 Step 4 – Submit an application So, Now You’re Covered! 16 What’s included in my membership pack? 16 What happens if I’m unconscious and I’m rushed to hospital? 17 Making a claim 18 Will my premiums go up? 18 How to keep premiums down 19 Exclusions & limitations Before You Take The Plunge 20 Annual limits 21 Waiting periods 22 Pre-existing conditions 23 Developing chronic conditions while insured 23 Differences between IHI, local and travel plans
  • 4. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? Why Pay For International Health Insurance? It’s all about certainty. IHI Basics Many people don’t really understand the basic purpose of health insurance even after they have purchased a policy. Here are some reasons why subscribing to an international health insurance policy makes sense: Choosing The Right Policy Reduce financial risk Receive World Class treatment Out of pocket medical expenses resulting from Having a good international health insurance serious injury or illness can be devastating. policy provides access to World Class provider Having a good health insurance policy can networks ensuring that you are in the very best literally save you from bankruptcy. hands should you become ill. Worry less Be healthier So, Now You’re Covered! If the worst happens, you will have the peace of Regular health checks are a common feature of mind knowing that your future is not dependent international health policies. Identifying health upon state health systems or goodwill of family problems early can help prevent serious issues and friends. developing. Before You Take The Plunge “Isn’t it too “Not always. In fact, international expensive to health insurance can be surprisingly buy coverage?” affordable. On average, BrokerFish clients pay as little as $158 per month.” 4
  • 5. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? Let’s Get Started - IHI Basics What is it? Irrespective of nationality, gender or income, more and more expats recognize the need for an IHI Basics international health insurance policy. In essence, international health insurance (IHI – also sometimes called private medical insurance – PMI) is:” Choosing The Right Policy ..insurance that is designed to cover the costs of private medical treatment for expatriates overseas. A basic IHI policy, provides medical treatment and reimbursement of medical expenses in the event of disease, illness or injury and which aims to return you to the state of health you were in immediately before suffering from the incident. So, Now You’re Covered! What are some key features of a typical IHI policy? Flexible Options Mobile Cover From budget emergency cover to hazardous BrokerFish health policies cover you wherever sports cover, BrokerFish plans are highly you are in the world and are available to people flexible and can be tailored to suit your lifestyle. from over 200 different countries. Before You Take The Plunge Provider Network Cashless Settlement Insurance companies have partnerships Insurers will arrange for direct billing with major with thousands of hospitals and hundreds of hospitals so that you don’t need to pay out and thousands of doctors. then reclaim the cost of your treatment. 5
  • 6. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? What are the typical benefit options of IHI policies? In-Patient Out-Patient The most basic form of international health Out-Patient refers to treatment provided in the cover, In-Patient refers to treatment received practice or surgery of a medical practitioner, IHI Basics in a hospital where an overnight stay is therapist or specialist and does not require the necessary. patient to be admitted to hospital. Maternity Dental Choosing The Right Policy Provides cover for medical costs incurred Routine dental includes an annual dental check- during pregnancy and childbirth, including up, simple fillings related to cavities or decay hospital charges, specialist fees, pre and post- and root canal treatment. Complex dental natal care, midwife fees as well as newborn includes gum disease treatment, orthodontics care. and dental prostheses. Well being Vaccinations Encourages good health through early Refers to immunisations and booster injections detection of serious illnesses. Includes things in addition to the cost of consultation for So, Now You’re Covered! like cancer screening, vital signs tests and administering the vaccine. cardiovascular system testing. Evacuation Repatriation Evacuation covers you for transport costs to Repatriation, allows you the added benefit of the nearest suitable medical centre, when the returning to your home country to be treated in treatment you need is not available nearby. familiar surroundings. Before You Take The Plunge Long-term care Optical Care for people that suffer from chronic Includes things like laser eye surgery, eye illness or disabilities and who cannot care for tests, spectacle lenses and contact lenses. themselves for long periods of time. 6
  • 7. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? Need-to-know insurance jargon Premium Lifetime Maximum The money you pay to the insurance company. The “Lifetime Maximum” is a cap on how Premiums are paid monthly, quarterly, semi- much the insurance company will pay for your IHI Basics annually or annually. claims over the total duration of your policy. Deductible / Excess Co-Insurance The amount of money that you must pay before Refers to the shared amount of money that Choosing The Right Policy the insurance company will start paying for you are obligated to pay for covered medical medical expenses. They can be per incident, services/treatment. In the table of benefits, you per insurance period or per year and applies may see something like: “Dental - 20% Co- separately to each person insured by the Insurance”. This means that you must share the policy. Not all policies require a deductible, but cost of dental treatment costs with the Insurer choosing a policy with a higher deductible will where you will pay 20% of the bill and the lower your premium. Insurer will pay the remaining 80%. Moratorium Cover Policy Wording So, Now You’re Covered! Sometimes, pre-existing conditions are initially The policy wording is the legal description excluded, but can be covered after a set time of the insurance policy and explains the full (the moratorium cover period), provided you’ve terms and conditions of the coverage provided, not suffered any symptoms or needed any including all applicable exclusions, conditions medical advice or treatment relating to the and limitations of cover. condition. “I have more “Refer to the BrokerFish.com Before You Take The Plunge jargon questions. glossary for jargon-busting Where can I find definitions on over 150 IHI more definitions? terms. Click here” 7
  • 8. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? Who is eligible to buy international health insurance? International health insurance policies are open to expatriates of all nationalities. Professionals, students, teachers, diplomats, retired couples and businesses are typical buyers of international health insurance. IHI Basics IHI is designed for those living and travelling away from home. Some Insurers do have age restrictions depending on the particular policy in question of around 64 years old but there are providers that will insure people as old as 120! Choosing The Right Policy How Do I Buy International Health Insurance? So, Now You’re Covered! Via an Insurer Via an Agent Via a Broker If you buy direct, you will Agents are usually able to provide In additional to offering unbiased be advised on their range of more options than by going direct guidance and information on products only so you could easily to only one Insurer, however, a huge range of IHI options, miss out on buying a far more agents are typically tied to a brokers can also serve as suitable plan. You will also not small number of providers and advocates if you bump up against receive any independent help can therefore only advise across the system and don’t know if you have any problems with a limited range of companies’ where to turn. Before You Take The Plunge claims, service or any issues that products. may arise. 8
  • 9. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? How does an insurance company decide how much to charge? Insurance companies will take into account a variety of factors to try to work out the correct price for a policy. Typically, age is the most important factor, but a whole host of variables will be considered. IHI Basics Age Gender Area of cover Choosing The Right Policy Payment Premium Benefits frequency Price Country of excess residence / deductible Pre-existing conditions So, Now You’re Covered! Can I save money if I buy direct from the insurance company? No. Insurers use brokers to market their products and will not discount their prices for customers that go to them directly. In fact, if anything, going to a broker ensures you will get the best deal available. Insurers know that a broker will advise their customers based upon a comparison with other plans in the market and therefore try to ensure that their prices are extremely competitive. If they didn’t, they would never get any business from brokers! Before You Take The Plunge “So if it doesn’t “Brokers receive a commission cost me anything, from the insurance company then how do you for any policy they put in make money...” place for you.” 9
  • 10. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? How do I choose and buy the right policy? If you’re confused when it comes to health insurance, believe us when we say that you are not alone! There are dozens of different insurance companies, hundreds of different policies and literally thousands of different policy options, all wrapped up in cryptic insurance language which can be time-consuming IHI Basics and confusing to figure out. It’s no surprise that many people tend to put sorting out their health insurance on the back burner, even though they know it is hugely important. In this section we’ll try to make your life a little easier by Choosing The Right Policy coaching you on how to select a policy that’s right for you. Let’s get started! Step 1 - First Things To Consider The best place to start is with yourself. What we first want to figure out is exactly what you need from an international health insurance policy. This will tell us a lot about what kind of cover you require. How? Make a list of your priorities Who’s applying? What should your policy cover? What kinds of Who do you want to cover? Will everyone be living in So, Now You’re Covered! things are absolutely necessary and what are the same country? Will anyone on the policy require luxuries? Maybe you want to ensure you’re covered coverage in the US or Canada? for hazardous sports. Perhaps maternity cover is a priority. Or you may want a policy that is geared towards emergency cover rather than day to day coverage. Before You Take The Plunge Health & lifestyle Money matters Are you healthy? How often did you visit the doctor What is your budget? Would you prefer to pay last year? How much did you spend on health care monthly or save money by paying annually? Would last year? Does your family have a trend of medical you want to lower your premium by choosing a policy illness? What is your medical history? Do you have with a high deductible? Or one with a high level of pre-existing or chronic conditions? coinsurance? 10
  • 11. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? Step 2 - Select a Suitable Level of Cover Traditionally, insurance companies offered various levels of cover with names such as Standard, Intermediate and Comprehensive. Although this format is still common, nowadays some insurers will also allow a level of customisation across their policies which enables you to tailor something more IHI Basics closely to your needs. To keep things simple, let’s look at the traditional levels of cover and what they typically provide. Choosing The Right Policy Standard Cover Standard insurance policies typically provide cover for In-Patient costs only. This means cover for staying overnight in a hospital when it is deemed a medical necessity. In-Patient normally includes things like emergency care, diagnosis and nursing costs. Standard cover is ideal for people on a budget or who want to provide cover for catastrophic situations rather than for day to day issues. Some standard policies will also include cover for day-patient treatment. This is when you receive treatment which requires a supervised recovery period, but does not require an overnight stay. So, Now You’re Covered! Hospital costs vary widely depending on where you are based in the world. Even a few nights stay can incur large costs, so making sure your basic policy provides good In-Patient coverage is vital. Also, check that the ‘Annual Plan Limit’ (which is the maximum the insurance company will pay out during a year of coverage) is sufficiently high. On entry-level plans this can often be quite low and may not be enough for your country of residence. Before You Take The Plunge “If I buy a standard “If after some time you find policy now, can I that you need more or less change my level of cover, you can change when cover later?” you renew your policy.” 11
  • 12. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? Intermediate Cover As well as In-Patient cover, Intermediate plans will add Out-Patient Cover. This is treatment which does not require an overnight stay or a supervised recovery period. A common example would be a consultation with a doctor. Intermediate plans will also offer increased plan limits over Standard plans. IHI Basics There is a lot of variety between plans in terms of what is / is not covered. Your list of priorities will help you to work out which plans are likely to be the most suitable. Comprehensive Cover Choosing The Right Policy These top of the range policies provide the greatest levels of cover and the highest plan limits. In addition to In-Patient and Out-Patient cover, they will often include things such as maternity, complex dental and optical cover. Extra Modules For your convenience, some insurers allow you to choose to add certain modules to enable you to tailor your level of coverage. Examples will include modules for travel insurance or for personal accident So, Now You’re Covered! expenses. Policy Options These are variables that you can control in order to further sharpen the match between your requirements and the policy. Typical choices here include things like: How much excess / deductible you want to pay; If you would like to co-pay for benefits and on what terms; Hospital accommodation; Before You Take The Plunge The hospital-network you have access to. “Are policy “Yes, correctly configuring your options really policy options to match your important?” requirements can have a huge impact on the cost of your policy” 12
  • 13. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? Excess / Deductible An excess / deductible is the amount of money that you must pay before the insurance company will start paying for medical expenses. They can be per incident, per insurance period or per year and apply to each insured member of the policy separately. Choosing a policy with a higher deductible will lower IHI Basics your premium. Selecting a deductible Choosing The Right Policy Brian loves underwater diving. He’s a fit lad and rarely gets sick. Looking back over the previous year, he finds that he only went to the doctor once to cure a bad ‘flu. He wonders what kind of policy and deductible would be sensible to keep his premiums low while still being covered for serious injury due to a catastrophic diving accident. Upon investigation, Brian chooses a Standard plan and then has the option to significantly increase the deductible. Looking at the table of benefits and premium rate table PDFs he So, Now You’re Covered! finds the following information: Maximum Sum Insured $2.7M In-Patient Treatment “Full Cover” Monthly Premium ($0 deductible) $162.69 Monthly Premium ($1,500 deductible) $88.74 Before You Take The Plunge Brian now has to decide whether to accept the high deductible in return for a much lower premium. By choosing the high deductible he would save nearly 50% of the premium, but if he does suffer a severe medical emergency, he would have to fund the first $1,500 of any claim himself. 13
  • 14. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? Step 3 - Go Fishing for Policies Now that you have a good idea of your needs, it’s time to go out and find what is most suitable. And this is where the services of a good broker or agent really come in. IHI Basics A specialist’s knowledge of a wide range of IHI policies will really cut down Take a deeper look: the time that you spend finding potential policies and they may find policies Get personalised quotes from insurance companies that you missed altogether. They can also review sent to your inbox now by visiting our your requirements and circumstances to ensure you’ve not missed anything Choosing The Right Policy quotation page and point out any shortcomings in the plans that you may be considering. Using a specialist like BrokerFish will provide you with a selection of the most suitable plans, laid out in a way that makes them easy to compare. Example of a quote comparison from BrokerFish So, Now You’re Covered! Before You Take The Plunge 14
  • 15. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? Step 4 - Submit an Application From here, we can submit an application form to the insurance company. Sometimes this can be done online, but more often than not, it will mean completing a paper application form. Submitting an application does not necessarily mean that your application will be automatically approved. Instead it IHI Basics will go through an “underwriting” process where the insurance company will look at your case and determine if, according to their risk policy, you are insurable. If required, a broker such as BrokerFish can help you to complete the application at no extra charge. After a few days to a few weeks, you will receive one of the following responses: Choosing The Right Policy “You’re approved!” “You’re approved, with conditions.” Most of the people who apply through BrokerFish The insurance company may offer you coverage but are approved. Once approved, your health insurance limit benefits for specific conditions based on your coverage will begin on the “effective date” as medical history. Or, the insurer may offer to include confirmed by the insurance company. certain medical conditions by charging a higher premium. So, Now You’re Covered! “More information is required.” “Your application is denied.” Sometimes, the insurance company will ask for more Although rare, applications are sometimes denied. information regarding your application, and If this happens, there may be a reason to appeal may request medical records from your doctor before the decision. If not, we can help you to apply to a coming to their final decision. different insurance company or we may be able to recommend alternative health care solutions. Before You Take The Plunge 15
  • 16. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? So, now you’re covered! What’s included in my membership pack? Paper or digital, and either posted or downloaded, the insurance company will provide you with: IHI Basics Your Membership Card; Your Insurance Certificate; A Table Of Benefits detailing what kind of benefits that you are entitled to and their limitations; Medical provider network documentation; A Membership Guide; Choosing The Right Policy A Treatment Guarantee Form; A Claim Form. What happens if I’m unconscious and I’m rushed to hospital – will I always be treated / covered? If you are insured there should be no problem. It’s very important to carry your insurance membership So, Now You’re Covered! card with you at all times. Keeping it in your wallet or purse will make it easier to find if medical personnel need to locate your personal details so they can liaise with your Insurer in an emergency situation. Before You Take The Plunge 16
  • 17. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? What if I need to make a claim? 1. Always make sure you understand what is, and is not, covered; 2. If the treatment is on an In-Patient basis give the Insurer sufficient notice so they can approve and put in place a treatment guarantee (direct payment arrangement) with the hospital/clinic; IHI Basics 3. Always carry your IHI card on your person. If a patient is admitted in a critical condition and cannot communicate, they will be searched for identification. In some countries and hospitals, having your insurance card in your wallet can also help to ensure that you receive the best treatment; 4. Make sure that you are not excluded from cover on the basis of a pre-existing condition or you Choosing The Right Policy are still subject to a ‘waiting period’; 5. Make sure that you have not exceeded your benefit limit; 6. Be honest and disclose fully when applying for your Insurance. If you try to conceal a previous or existing condition and the Insurer finds out, they may not only reject the claim you are making but can also void your policy. This means they could ask you to repay any previous amounts paid under the policy, or take steps to recover from you any such payments.” 7. For out-patient treatment, check whether your insurer has a direct billing arrangement in place with the hospital or clinic; So, Now You’re Covered! 8. Always keep your original receipts and ensure that, if you need to complete a claim form, all sections are completed, the treating Doctor has signed where necessary and the form has been correctly stamped and dated. Before You Take The Plunge 17
  • 18. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? Will my premiums go up? As people get older they typically need and receive more medical treatment and, as such, premiums for IHI tend to increase with age. In addition to this, premiums are likely to increase due to: The steady year-on-year trend of more and more people making claims; IHI Basics The increasing sophistication and cost of treatments; Increasing wage growth in the healthcare sector; Increasing losses suffered by insurers due to fraudulent claims being recovered by increased Choosing The Right Policy premiums across the board; Are there ways to keep my premium costs down?” There are several things that you can do that can help to keep down the cost of your insurance. Don’t claim! Policy options Some Insurers now offer a no-claims discount Increasing your excess / deductible or increasing So, Now You’re Covered! policy. Investigate this with your insurance your co-pay options can save you up to as much company to see if you are eligible. as 60%. Go back to basics Can you enrol in a group scheme? Are you paying too much for benefits that you Joining or creating a new group scheme can don’t really need? often significantly reduce the cost of insurance for each member of the group. Before You Take The Plunge Consider switching insurer Pay annually A lot can change in a year. On renewal, take Insurers offer significant discounts for yearly some time to investigate if switching to another payments. insurance company or policy is wise. 18
  • 19. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? What your IHI policy will not pay for All IHI policies come with a list of things that will not be covered (exclusions) and a list of restrictions on the benefits. Common to many IHI policies are the following exclusions: IHI Basics 1. Treatment outside the geographical area 6. Treatment for sexually transmitted of cover. diseases. 2. Over the counter drugs such as vitamins, 7. Self-inflicted injuries which can also minerals or dietary supplements. include alcohol or substance related abuse. Choosing The Right Policy 3. Medication that can be purchased without 8. Experimental medications and a doctor’s prescription. experimental treatments. 4. Plastic or similar surgical procedures carried 9. Investigations into, or treatment of, sleep out for wholly cosmetic reasons. disorders, including apnea and insomnia. 5. Injury, accident or illness resulting from 10. Medically unnecessary treatment. So, Now You’re Covered! natural disaster, war or terrorism. Before You Take The Plunge 19
  • 20. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? Before you take the plunge.. When considering IHI policies, there are a number of things to bear in mind. Annual Limit IHI Basics All IHI policies will have a total policy payment limit. Once you reach this limit, no further reimbursements will be available. If you haven’t got a sufficiently high annual policy limit, you could be caught out: Bitten by a dangerous spider in Bali! Choosing The Right Policy Anne has a basic policy with a $50,000 annual limit. On holiday in Bali she gets bitten by a dangerous spider! The nearest quality medical facility that can provide the vital treatment is in Singapore and as such she needs urgent medical evacuation. Medical support in Bali: $10,000 Air ambulance $25,000 So, Now You’re Covered! Medical treatment in Singapore $20,000 Annual Limit - $50,000 Anne pays: $5,000 The medical expenses in Bali, the evacuation costs and resulting treatment in Singapore exceeds the $50,000 annual cover limit meaning that she needs to pay for costs in excess of her $50,000 annual limit. Before You Take The Plunge Buy a policy with a reasonable annual limit to help avoid such scenarios. 20
  • 21. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? What are “Waiting Periods”? Some policies apply a “waiting period” for specific benefits. This simply means that after you buy a policy, cover for certain benefits will only be available after the waiting period has expired. IHI Basics Typical examples of waiting periods for IHI plans are: Maternity 10-12 months Dental 6-9 months Choosing The Right Policy Well being 12 months Pre-existing conditions 24 months Meet Angela & Denis Angela and Denis are uninsured and are planning to start a family in the near future. Should they take out a policy today to cover pregnancy or should they wait until Angela So, Now You’re Covered! becomes pregnant? Buy now and become Angela is covered for the entire pregnant 10-12 months later duration of her pregnancy Buy later when Angela is 6 Angela will not be covered for the months into her pregnancy entire duration of her pregnancy Before You Take The Plunge As you can see, in order to receive full maternity cover you would need to put the policy in place before becoming pregnant. 21
  • 22. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? What is considered a pre-existing condition? The BrokerFish definition as it relates to IHI is as follows: Medical conditions or any related medical conditions for which one or more symptoms have surfaced prior to commencement of cover. IHI Basics Can I get cover for pre-existing conditions? In the past international health Insurers have excluded cover for pre-existing conditions. However, there Choosing The Right Policy are now some Insurers that will look at medical history on a case by case basis and will try to cover pre- existing conditions. Expats with pre-existing conditions can consider the following options: Excluding the condition from coverage; Moratorium underwriting (waiting period until the condition subsides); Premium loading; or Medical history disregard. So, Now You’re Covered! Having pre-existing conditions does not necessarily mean that your insurance rates will be higher. But, if the pre-existing conditions fits into a company’s definition for such, it may mean that those conditions will not be covered by your insurance or in return the Insurer will typically increase your premium cost (“premium-loading”) to cover their costs. If the condition is to be excluded from coverage then this means that you will not be able to claim for treatment of that condition or any related condition. Before You Take The Plunge “What happens if I “If not declared it may be that not don’t tell the Insurer only your pre-existing condition is about my pre-existing not covered, but the insurer refuses conditions?” to pay for other issues due to the dishonesty of the application!” 22
  • 23. BrokerFish Why Pay For IHI? What happens if I develop a chronic condition while insured – will they refuse to cover this condition in future years as it is by then a ‘pre-existing condition’? IHI Basics Some Insurers will provide full cover for chronic conditions as long as you remain insured with them, whereas others will have restrictions and limits. Chronic conditions can become very expensive and as the level of cover varies greatly by insurer, always make sure you understand what cover is provided. If this is an important consideration for you then speak to a broker before you take out a policy so they Choosing The Right Policy can short-list suitable plans. What are the major differences between IHI, local and travel policies? This table compares IHI, local and travel policies. Please note that due to the range of plans available, the table gives an overview of the typical cover that each type of plan will provide: International Policies Local Policies Travel Policies So, Now You’re Covered! Designed for Expats Locals Holiday Makers Level of cover High Medium Low Maximum benefit limits High Medium Low Premium costs High Medium Low Area of cover Worldwide Limited Trip Specific Benefit options Many Few Few Hospital accommodation Private Public / Private Semi-Private Full In-Patient Treatment Yes Limited Yes Renewability Life Per Year Per Trip Before You Take The Plunge Premium cost on renewal Standard Standard Standard Hospital network Worldwide Country Specific Worldwide Exclusions Some Many Many Pre-existing conditions Some Excluded Some Language support Multilingual Local Multilingual 23
  • 24. BrokerFish Further Resources Why Pay For IHI? Get Quotes Now Articles FAQs Glossary BrokerFish – we’re here for you IHI Basics Contact BrokerFish for any assistance that you need. Whether you want impartial advice and assistance in finding the right policy, need help in cutting through the jargon or even need assistance in resolving a dispute with an insurer, we’re here to help. Our focus on providing cost-free, impartial advice, coupled with our outstanding customer service, is why our clients love Choosing The Right Policy BrokerFish and why we continue to succeed. Contact us BrokerFish Helpline: 19A-LGF-1, UOA Centre Call us: +60 3 2162 4077 19 Jalan Pinang Call back: click here 50450 Kuala Lumpur So, Now You’re Covered! Malaysia contact@brokerfish.com www.brokerfish.com Before You Take The Plunge Limitation of liability About us BrokerFish Buying The Perfect International Health Insurance Policy and the BrokerFish is a brand of Direct Health, a division of the Tenbridge Group Limited, a brokerfish.com Website contain information regarding product benefits, prices and licensed International insurance broker regulated by the Labuan Financial Services other product information. In no event will BrokerFish be liable for any damages, Authority, registered in Labuan at Brighton Place, No U0215, Jalan Bahasa, P.O. Box including without limitation special and/or punitive damages and / or consequential 80431, 87014 Labuan, Federal Territory of Malaysia, Registered No. BS200863. damages and / or losses or expenses arising from, out of or in connection with this Tenbridge Group Limited is also a member of the Labuan International Life Insurance document or the brokerfish.com website. The information contained herein or any Association, Registered No. 200804-142. linked site or use thereof or inability to make use thereof by any party, or in connection with any failure of performance, error, omission, interruption, defect, delay in operation The correspondence address for BrokerFish is 19A-LGF-1, Lower Ground Floor, UOA or transmission, computer virus or line or system failure, even if BrokerFish or any Centre, 19 Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur 50450. agents and / or representatives thereof are advised of the possibility of such damages, losses or expenses. © Copyright 2010 Tenbridge Group Limited. All Rights Reserved