Back to list 2020-01-20 15:07:41

When you decide to enroll into an international health insurance, most of the time it involves a long time thinking process. Indeed, some international health insurance plans can be high-priced and therefore shall be selected carefully. Moreover, you want to be sure to choose the right coverage for your specific needs. Living away from your regular settings and understanding of the healthcare system can be challenging.

In order to help you fully understand your current or future International Health Insurance plan, MSH China has decided to help you see clearer in those sometimes opaque terms.

What is inpatient and outpatient? What is direct billing? Co-payment? These are some of the questions frequently asked by our members.

International Health Insurance: what is that?

The aim of an International Health Insurance is to cover you, your family or your employees over long-term trips abroad and/or expatriation. International Health Insurance can provide reimbursement for many different types of events that can be incurred during the policyholder's travels abroad, including health care and other medical expenses.

Compared to Europe where “free” and universal healthcare system is the norm, public health care system in China is still far from it. A minor surgery in China without insurance coverage can be very expensive and upfront full payment is usually necessary. This is why it is important for a person to be insured in order to avoid paying thousands of yuan, or have to go back home or worst, skip a medical emergency due to financial concern.

International Health Insurance plan reimburses your healthcare expenses incurred abroad almost at the same level as you are accustomed to in your home country. Sums assured are usually way higher than a travel insurance and coverage is usually extended too.

International Health Insurance covers:

·         Medical visits

·         Hospitalizations and medication

·         Medical assistance

·         Repatriation

Other benefits can be added such as maternity, vision, dental and wellness. The International Health Insurance plan designed by MSH China together with local insurance companies offer different options of geographic coverage (from Mainland China to Worldwide).

What is outpatient? (FR: médecine ambulatoire/ IT: trattamenti ambulatoriali)

The first question you’ll be asked when choosing an International Health Insurance plan is whether you desire to have inpatient coverage only or both in- and outpatient. What are they actually covering?

Outpatient means daily treatment received from doctors or specialists, including prescriptions and related exams (X-ray, blood test, RMI etc.) as long as symptoms are shown. This is typically referring to occasions when a patient attends a hospital for treatment without staying overnight.