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Are You Covered? |
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How certain are you that your policy will cover you when you need it most? International Private Medical Insurance has become a must have for expatriates but how well do you know what you are covered for? Sometimes when you do find out, it’s too late. William Russell Limited, a leading International Medical Insurance provider has this advice on what may or may not be covered.
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Do you play sports? |
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A large number of health insurers will exclude injuries resulting from sports or hazardous activities. This can include sports such as rugby and hockey plus the more dangerous hobbies such as skiing. If you do take part in these activities, you may need to check the exclusions list to be absolutely certain.
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Cover at home or whilst travelling |
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If you are likely to return to your home country on holiday or on business, you will probably need adequate cover. Secondly, if you travel frequently you may need cover whilst outside of your country of residence and may need to consider taking out a Travel Insurance Plan. Not all insurance policies will cover you whilst outside your country of residence especially those issued by local providers. Some providers offer travel insurance as part of their medical insurance policy.
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Cover in the UK for British Nationals
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Free treatment on the NHS is looking more or more unlikely except in emergency situations, and you may also wish to consider having non-urgent treatment in the UK if visiting family there. This may not be automatically covered by your plan.
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Pre-existing Conditions |
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Most international healthcare providers will exclude conditions that pre-date the commencement of your policy. If you don’t declare that knee injury from a few years, you may find that any associated condition is not covered as well as the inj ury itself.
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Psychiatric Treatment, AIDS and Chronic Conditions |
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As with pre-existing conditions, most insurers limit cover for psychiatric treatment, AIDS or HIV and chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart conditions. You will need to check that your insurer covers them and how much.
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Maternity |
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The majority of insurers offer cover for both routine pregnancy and complications of pregnancy with the latter usually only on their top plan. To qualify for cover, insurers often insist that you have been covered for 12 months continuously on that level of cover.
When maternity is covered, treatment of birth defects and congenital conditions will probably also be covered.
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Free To Decide |
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Does the policy allow you and your doctor freedom to choose the hospital or clinic in which you are to be treated? If not, you could find that you have to foot a bill for treatment normally covered if your insurance policy operates a restricted list of hospitals and clinics, limiting the choice you have.
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Terrorist Cover |
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Since September 11, both insurers and policyholders are paying more attention to the wording of policies with regards to terrorist activity. Treatment is often covered if you are an innocent bystander but not always.
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Vaccinations and inoculations |
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Some health insurers are starting to provide some cover for these but it is still very limited.
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Dental treatment |
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Dental treatment can be expensive and this is often reflected in the premiums where it is covered. Most policies do not cover dental treatment except emergency work and some routine dental treatment on high cover plans.
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Acts of God |
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With recent events, some insurers have been shown to exclude anything arising from acts of God such as natural disasters. Again, most international PMI providers cover this but it would be wise to read the T&Cs, especially of add on extras such as travel insurance or personal accident cover. William Russell do not exclude Acts of God.
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Guaranteed Renewability |
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Will your insurer continue to cover you if you make a claim or contract an illness? Some medical insurance providers will not offer renewal or may increase your premium if you make a claim or suffer an illness. You need to ensure that your insurance company will guarantee renewal and that your premium will not be loaded if for example you suffer a heart attack or a back injury.
Other standard exclusions under an international medical plan are kidney dialysis, eyesight tests, bone marrow transplants, infertility and birth control treatment, eating disorders such as bulimia and obesity and treatment by Chinese medicine or herbalist methods.
The only way you can be absolutely sure that you have the best policy for you and that you have the cover that you need is by comparing the plans in the market and reading the fine print. Or contacting Globalsurance who will do it for you!
Information provided by Paul Andrews, Business Development Manager at William Russell Limited, a UK based medical insurer offering cover to expatriates of all nationalities around the world.
Globalsurance is an independent Worldwide Health Insurance Advisor. We work with all the major insurance company and can give you independent advice or a range of free International Health Insurance Quotes; click for Free Advice and Quotes.
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