When selecting a medical insurance plan you have a lot to take into consideration. From selecting an insurer to determining a budget, there is plenty to think about. One of the most pivotal things you must determine is the level of cover you require. A standard cover level is typically the most basic and is ideal for those that wish to benefit from health insurance yet have a restricted budget. These plans are incredibly popular, but what do they usually cover?
It is vital to establish that every medical insurance plan and provider is different and, therefore, you need to read the policy terms and conditions in full detail to be sure you what you are going to get for your money. Nonetheless, this type of policy is typically great for minimising health insurance costs and ensuring you have access to in-day and sometimes day-patient treatment whenever you require it. In basic terms, most people who choose this plan do so to ensure that they are protected should a medical emergency occur, yet they are not covered for standard day-to-day issues and check-ups.
Standard cover plans do not tend to cover out-patient costs, they only cover in-patient expenses. This means that you will only be covered for staying in a hospital overnight if it is considered to be your only option, i.e. a medical necessity. You also won’t benefit from extra services, such as dental services or medical deliveries like home catheter supplies. Other costs that will be covered include nursing expenses, diagnosis and of course emergency care. As mentioned, day-patient treatment may also be covered. This relates to medical treatment expenses that need a supervised recovery phase but do not require an overnight stay.
Whilst this type of policy may offer standard cover in terms of the different treatments and services that are covered, it is essential to ensure you find a policy that has substantial annual limits. A lot of health insurance policies with standard coverage only have low annual limits. This can prove to be troublesome if you find yourself in a situation whereby you need to stay in a hospital for a couple of nights because of an emergency. These instances can result in high bills and you need to make sure your policy covers this.
So there you have it, an insight into what you can expect when taking out a health insurance plan with a standard cover. If this does not seem substantial for you, you should look into intermediate and comprehensive cover. There are also policies today that can be fully adapted to you, meaning you can select all of the services you need and the ones that you don’t.
