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<Prudent Strategies in Taking Out Medical Insurance> pdf (Chinese Version only)
Smart Tips |
Use your healthcare card wisely:
(It is very convenient for a patient to show his medical card to obtain the medical services stated in the policy without the need to pay or he needs only to pay for a small amount.) |
Know More About Healthcare Cards
Regardless of individual or group medical insurance, for convenience of policyholders, a lot of medical insurance will provide various covers and claims method. Healthcare card is one of them, it facilitates policyholders to seek consultation with doctors under their medical insurance network or hospitals and eliminates the complicated claims procedure. It is simple and convenient.
Healthcare card saves out-patient claims procedure
Mr Ng said: "My medical insurer has issued me a healthcare card which is convenient for me to consult any of its panel doctors in Hong Kong when I need. However, after I have moved to live in Sai Kung, the panel doctor located nearest to my home is in Tsueng Kwan O. My wife has reminded me that if I don't want to consult the panel doctor, I can consult any doctor and claim back the medical expenses with the original receipt from the insurer."
More choices for patients
Medical insurance policy is a contract between the policyholder and the insurance company. The level of cover and premium are usually clearly stated, for example, the consultation fee, maximum amount of compensation, etc. To facilitate the policyholders in seeking consultation and the relevant health management organization to handle claims, the insurance company will provide a healthcare card to each policyholder. The use of it is like a charge card: a policyholder needs only to show his card at times of doctor consultation, the health management organization will deal with the insurance company directly on the medical bills. The policyholder needs not going through any claim procedure.
Since the scope of different policies varies, some policyholders may have to make a co-payment for each visit but some may not. Or if the expense of the drugs prescribed exceeds the covered limit, the policyholder has to pay for the additional cost.
Option to pay first and claim back later
Using Mr Ng's case as an example, the medical plan he has chosen allows him to consult either the panel doctors or any registered doctor. Even if he does not use his healthcare card to consult a panel doctor, he can consult any registered doctor instead; it does not affect his right to claim. He needs to pay the full medical expenses, get the relevant receipt and claim from the insurance company for the amount under the policy. However, policyholders have to be aware that some medical plans would restrict the choice of doctors or medical organizations.