Sometimes people take out health insurance, but then, when the time comes to make use of it, they are unaware of all the benefits covered by their policy and end up missing out on a lot. For example, they book an appointment with a doctor themselves without checking whether the service they need is covered by the policy, or they only remember about their insurance when a serious problem arises. Many mistakes are made during the insurance application process. It is therefore worth finding out about common problems and how to avoid them.
Mistake 1. Choosing health insurance based solely on price
It is only natural for people to want to choose the cheaper of two options on the market. However, when it comes to health insurance, this approach often proves misleading. One policy may cost less because it offers different cover, has a lower sum insured, or involves a different level of co-payment by the customer.
For example, as part of the «My Health» programme» UNIQA Insurance Company offers several options for insurance cover:
- Basic — covers the cost of calling an ambulance, hospitalisation, the provision of medicines during hospitalisation and online consultations with doctors;
- Extended — additionally includes initial and follow-up offline consultations with doctors under the 30% excess scheme, meaning the customer pays a portion of the cost of the service;
- Optimal — includes additional cover for tests and diagnostic procedures using CT and MRI scans (subject to an excess), a doctor’s home visit, and an annual check-up with a gynaecologist and a urologist.
As can be seen, health insurance It works differently in each case. Before taking out a policy, it is worth drawing up your own list of priorities. For example, you should consider whether you need face-to-face appointments with doctors, whether advanced diagnostic tests are important to you, and so on. Only then should you decide which plan to choose.
Mistake 2. Not reading what exactly is included in the programme
The health insurance policy sets out the insured risks, limits, exclusions and the claims procedure. Before signing the policy, it is worth finding out which services are available under your chosen plan, what the maximum cover amounts are, and what is excluded.
For example, UNIQA’s «My Health» insurance scheme covers the following risks:
- an acute illness of the insured person;
- an exacerbation of a chronic condition;
- illness resulting from an accident.
The exact list of insurance services depends on the plan option selected.
Mistake 3. Not taking into account the maximum sum insured
Another common mistake is failing to check the financial terms of the contract.
The sum insured defines the insurer’s liability limit as set out in the contract. The excess is the portion of the costs which, in accordance with the terms of a specific policy, may be payable by the insured person in certain circumstances.
For example, in the various versions of UNIQA’s «My Health» scheme, the sum insured ranges from 75,000 to 150,000 UAH. Consequently, the range of services that the company will cover in the event of a claim increases.
Mistake 4. Seeing a doctor on your own, without using the services of a medical assistance provider
There are times when a person falls ill, finds a suitable clinic, books an appointment themselves, and only afterwards remembers they have insurance. At first glance, nothing serious has happened. But it is precisely this sort of action that can cause a problem, as it may turn out that the insurance company does not have a partnership agreement with that clinic. In that case, payment for the medical services provided may prove problematic.
To avoid this happening, it is worth checking in advance the list of healthcare providers with which the insurance company works, and when an insured event occurs, you should first contact the medical assistance service. This is a service that coordinates the insured person’s visits to doctors.
For example, at the insurance company UNIQA, medical assistance is available 24/7. You can also book a doctor’s appointment via the myUNIQA app.
This applies primarily to routine consultations, check-ups and other situations where there is no need to act within a matter of minutes. In the event of a medical emergency, you must first seek the necessary emergency medical care.
Mistake 5. Only thinking about insurance when your health is in a bad way
Some people see health insurance merely as a financial safety net intended solely for serious medical treatment. But the value of health insurance lies in being able to get a handle on a health problem at an early stage.
For example, when the first symptoms appear, it is not always clear whether an in-person visit to the doctor is necessary, or whether a remote consultation will suffice. If the programme offers online consultations, you can make use of them. However, this does not mean that they replace a face-to-face examination in all cases. The purpose of an online consultation is different — it is to help you get professional advice without having to travel to the clinic every time.
