6 QUESTIONS YOU SHOULD ASK WHEN BUYING HEALTH CARE INSURANCE

Buying insurance can seem challenging, but choosing the right provider is an important decision.

Here is the list of six important questions you should ask when selecting the right provider:

  1. Why should I choose you as my agent who can introduce the best insurance product to meet my needs and best value for my money?

Because there is no “best” health insurance company for everyone, we should consider how   good is the reputation of a company based on convincing customer satisfaction reports. Likely you found an insurance agent by searching on the internet or by a referral from someone you know.  A good agent should patiently describe your insurance plan options and willingly address your concerns, inform you of advantages and any disadvantages about different insurance policies and always fully in context of you.

  1. Which third party will do Medical Evacuation and Repatriation and what are the contacts details?

In an emergency case if there is no hospital in Vietnam that can give required treatment, then seeking medical treatment in the nearest neighboring country with equipped medical facilities to administer quality care should be done immediately. Certainly, you want to be sure of their assistance, reliability and ready accessibility for life-saving care.

  1. Can Hotline Keepers speak English well and how long does it take to receive their feedback? 

Hotline Keeper is a part of Customer Service, part of product offering and with excellent customer service, this can make company difference, leading people to buy its products.

When life is in danger, we need their immediate helpful advice. To communicate with clients and also with Medical providers, good knowledge about your benefits, medical experiences and good at listening and speaking English are essential.

It would be a good idea to try calling before choosing.

  1. Does the company have oversea direct billing for international plans?

If an insured person is admitted to hospital or received daycare treatment, the direct settlement is very convenient and he/she does not need to worry about paying large bills up – front.

If yes, the customer should ask for the list of hospitals including address and telephone number.

  1. Is the definition of pre-existing conditions clear enough and easy to understand?

(To avoid having disagreement in the future, if your problem is proven to have existed before joining, no matter whether you were aware or not.)

Here are two clear sample definitions:

Pre-existing – any medical condition or related medical condition that, in our reasonable opinion, has any one or more of the following characteristics:
Was foreseeable
Clearly showed itself
A member had signs or symptoms of
A member asked for advice about
A member received treatment for
To the best of a member’s knowledge, they were aware they had”

“Pre-existing conditions: Any medical conditions of the Insured Person which have been diagnosed; or for which symptoms existed that would cause an ordinary prudent person to seek diagnosis, care or treatment; or for which medical treatment was recommended by a medical practitioner, irrespective of whether treatment was actually received or not.”

  1. Does the plan cover for Day case or Day patient treatment (being admitted in a hospital at least 4 hours and does not stay over night) in inpatient benefits?

Different health insurance plans might cover different types of medical care. For example, some might not cover mental health, medical checkup, or maternity care. However, most    insurance plans sold to individuals and small businesses have daycare / day case or day-inpatient treatment included in inpatient benefit. That is very important because if you select inpatient only for your plan, without that benefit, you will pay quite a lot for emergency care in case of serious sickness such as serious diarrhea, requiring you to occupy a hospital bed for less than 18 hours or 24 hours.

At Tina Insurance Agent Consultant Services, we have excellent resources to help guide you through these questions. Contact Tina now to get free advice on the best healthcare insurance policy for you.