Top 5 Health Insurance Questions to Ask Your Insurance Agent

The government of Singapore provides medical insurance through the MediShield Life program. However, the program covers primary treatment in public hospitals. This means that one may need to dig deep in their pockets for higher bills. It is also possible to use Medisave savings to pay for the bills. However, sometimes one might need better cover; hence one may need to understand health insurance questions to ask.

Interestingly, Singapore has a range of insurance providers whose services are top of the range. However, it is essential to know what questions to ask so that one can get the best deal. Below are some of the questions to ask your insurance agent.

What are the Available Plans?

Every insurance company has a range of plans, although there are basic services that are common across the market.

However, every company has a different description and definition of plans. Therefore, it is prudent for one to ask the agent about the available plans. 

Further, by asking the question, the agent will be able to help you regarding the plan that most suits your needs. One will be able to choose a plan as per one’s pre-existing conditions and financial capability.

What are the Available Benefits & Policy Exclusions?

Like mentioned, the government of Singapore provides the mandatory MediShield Life health cover. However, people go for more plans to get better coverage and to be able to access better health facilities. Most of these covers carry dear premiums. Therefore, they always include benefits to entice customers.

As much as one would want a cheap insurance cover, one will have to ensure it carries good benefits. Therefore, one will have to ask the agent the kind of benefits and how the company distributes them across plans. Further, the agent will explain at this point what kind of benefits one earns in case a policyholder dies. 

Further, understanding the policy exclusions will help the policyholder to have an in-depth understanding of the policy. 

Which Doctors are Available for Consultations?

Taking a policy with a company ties you to them for the period the policy lasts. This is to say that you will meet the same doctors for the whole period. Therefore, you must first know the kind of doctors you will be consulting with.

This will help the potential policyholder to make a better decision. The quality of the doctors determines the quality of care you get. Therefore, you must ensure the doctors are appropriately qualified, and the available health institutions are well equipped.

If There are Deductibles, What are They?

Typically, insurance policies include a certain amount that a policyholder pays before payout of claims. Understanding this fact will help policyholders to not make the mistake of assuming the policy covers everything.   

Once the agent explains deductibles and how the company treats them, one will be in a better position to proceed. Further, the information will help the policyholder to decide if one can seek insurance from the deductibles.

What are the Policy Holder’s Responsibilities?

Of course, the first and unquestionable responsibility is to pay the agreed premiums. However, there are other company-specific responsibilities that the policyholder bears. This also includes your liabilities to third parties.

For instance, AXA Insurance in Singapore provides that the policyholder must tell them everything the holder knows. However, this is also a legal requirement on the part of the potential policyholder. In particular, the insurer relies on the responsibility to design the best coverage for the potential policyholder. However, one needs to understand if there are other responsibilities to avoid complications in case of claims payout.