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Reply #4 on Nov 15, 2015 at 9:33am me200, candy188, and 1 more like this
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Post by oldman on Nov 15, 2015 at 9:33am
As I am now a consumer of healthcare insurance, what I am learning about insurance companies scares me even more. I was in hospital for a few weeks in Oct and chalked up a bill of well over $100,000, which I had to pay out of my own pocket first. I blamed the hospital for being too kiasu by getting money from me first.
Then, a letter from the insurance company arrived and stating that they will not be paying anything until my oncologist replies to their list of questions. The insurance company tells that this process can easily take another 10 weeks! I then called my oncologist who kindly filled up the list of questionaire and sent it back to the insurance company. Let me see whether the insurance company finds other ways of dragging its feet.
Of course no one wants to stay in hospital for a few weeks unless he is very sick! Glad to say, I am now on the road to recovery ... but have still to sort out these insurance issues which I previously thought will be transparent to me. How wrong I was!
For those with private health insurance cover, be aware.... your policy may require you to have a few hundred thousand dollars sitting idle in the bank..... yes, this is not mentioned even in the fine print and certainly will not be mentioned by your insurance agent!
At best, if you have private healthcare insurance and intend to make use of the private hospitals or approved clinics, you should view your insurance plan as a reimbursement plan.... you have to pay upfront first and your insurance company hopefully will pay you back ( yes, there will be clauses in your insurance plan to allow them the flexibility of reviewing all charges before paying you back). Payback time is also up to the insurance company.
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CW,
ReplyDeleteThis is probably why some who have paid Integrated Plans decide to downgrade from Private to Public hospitals, and public A class to B class?
The reimbursements will come eventually. Just use credit card to accumulate rebates/points first.
ReplyDeleteShield plan to cover A Ward and Private Hospital + Cash Rider to pay up to the first cent of the bills is still the best health protection plan.
Walau. $100k bill can use credit card.
DeleteCan, unless your are super high networth client.
DeleteHow many has this credit limit? Few only.
Uncle CW,
ReplyDeleteWah, got this kind of case. Thanks for the heads-up
the ministry which oversees health matters, be it treatment in private or govt hospital, shld be aware of the health insurance plan one is with, to avoid paying first then seek reimbursement
ReplyDeleteIt is not easy to cough up a few hundred k ...
Before any major treatment there is counselling session on expected cost. So some know themselves will down grade.
Deletejia you on the upcoming talk!!! :d
ReplyDeleteYeap. Alternate voice to be heard. :-)
DeleteOld man is late Dr Michael Leong
ReplyDeleteRead? Firstly, pay off your loans