What Are Inpatient Benefits?
Insights by a medical insurance expert
So you are interested in medical insurance but you’ve come across the term in-patient benefits and are unsure about what it means.
Don’t stress. I’ve got you covered here as I’m going to be breaking down this term to help you understand what it is, and why you should care about it.
I’m going to cover exactly what is included with inpatient benefits and explain it to you so you can better understand and choose the correct medical insurance policy that works around your needs.
Why am I doing this? To help you of course. When you understand this stuff more, you won’t be left with any nasty bills and also you can potentially get better medical insurance than what you currently have.
Now, I’m going to be going from what we offer as examples of what you can expect with inpatient benefits so you can better understand the difference of what we offer in the market as well.
If you’re ready to start getting medical insurance, please don’t hesitate to jump on our site and get an instant quote.
Let’s get started! Here’s my in-depth guide on inpatient benefits.
What Are Inpatient Benefits?
Ok, so if I put this simply, inpatient benefits refers to the coverage provided for individuals who are admitted to a hospital bed and stay overnight or for multiple nights to receive treatment.
This is the coverage that ensures the costs associated with inpatient treatment are taken care of. This includes things such as hospital accommodation, nursing care, and intensive care. All the important stuff really that’s included in major medical insurance.
Being realistic, having inpatient benefits as part of your medical insurance policy is pretty damn crucial. Especially for those of you who are constantly on the move or living internationally as expats or digital nomads.
It will provide you with the peace of mind knowing that you will receive the necessary treatment and care in a hospital setting, if any emergencies or accidents happen when you are living abroad (or even at home for that sake).
It’s important to note that different insurance companies may offer varying levels of inpatient coverage. As I always say in every article I write, you don’t want to be left out of pocket or stung by costs of healthcare.
What Is Included With Inpatient Benefits?
Well, it’s a good question and luckily I’ll be going through everything that you can get with inpatient benefits using our policies as an example.
General Nursing Care
Overall, you can expect coverage for various aspects of your hospital stay. This will include room and board, sorry for the technical terms but in simple words it’s essentially the cost of your accommodation and general nursing care.
Parent Accommodation
Additionally, inpatient benefits cover parental accommodation, allowing for an added bed in the same room, ensuring that you can be close to your loved ones during their hospitalisation. This is important for families who are living or travelling overseas for a while.
Theatre Fees
The coverage also extends to theatre fees, which include X-rays, laboratory tests, medicines and drugs, blood and plasma, surgical appliances, and even the rental of wheelchairs. This is super important because this is the most expensive stuff when it comes to emergency bills.
Intensive Care
Let’s also not forget, inpatient benefits cover intensive care as well. This means providing you with standard accommodation, food, and general nursing care in an intensive care unit of your chosen hospital.
Professional Fees
Now, in addition to these essential benefits the coverage also includes fees for surgeons, anaesthetists, and other medical professionals involved in your treatment. Again, super important for emergencies and if there is a serious accident that could leave you heavily out of pocket.
Rehabilitation, Dialysis, and Oncology
Inpatient benefits should also cater to specific medical needs like rehabilitation, kidney dialysis, and oncology treatment. Again these are essentials and another area that could leave you badly out of pocket without medical insurance.
Emergency Services
In case of emergencies, all plans offer full coverage for emergency room treatments and local ambulance services. If you are looking for high end coverage, like us, some insurers might provide coverage for organ transplant as well which can cost up to $100,000+.
Hospital Cash Benefit
Now, if you have a really good insurance program, you will be eligible for a daily cash benefit provided to cover incidental hospital expenses, which can be a helpful addition during hospital stays. We offer this as well, which may not be found by many other companies.
Why Should You Know About Inpatient Benefits?
I believe it is crucial for individuals to have knowledge about inpatient benefits. Here are the reasons why you should be aware of inpatient benefits:
Firstly, understanding inpatient benefits helps you understand the level of coverage you have by your insurance company for hospitalisation expenses. Essentially, by knowing what is included, you can ensure that you have the necessary financial protection against the potentially high costs associated with inpatient care.
Not only that, but being well-informed about inpatient benefits will give you peace of mind. You know that you have the correct comprehensive coverage in the event that you are hospitalised in an overseas country.
Finally, you can easily navigate the claims process more effectively. By knowing what expenses are covered, you can ensure that you follow the correct procedure and provide the necessary documentation, leading to a smoother and faster reimbursement process for eligible expenses.
Not that it should be stressful anyway, if you have a good insurance provider, you won’t be expected to pay any deductibles or upfront costs. This is the problem with most travel insurance companies is they offer bad packages that don’t pay the hospitals directly.
Factors To Consider Around Inpatient Benefits As An International Expat
Ok, as a nomad or expat, what factors should you consider when you are looking into medical insurance and choosing the right package for you or your family? We’ve actually got a guide on the best medical insurance here.
Do a coverage scope
Firstly, I’d recommend doing what is called a ‘coverage scope’. This is where you can identify what inpatient benefits are included by the insurance provider and whether or not the coverage is comprehensive or limited.
This can include things like networks of hospitals. You can check whether the insurance policy has a network of hospitals and healthcare providers in your desired locations. This is ultra relevant to people who are overseas in different countries a lot. We’ve got an article here for medical insurance whilst living abroad.
Don’t forget, if you have any pre-existing medical conditions, you will need to understand how they are covered under the inpatient benefits. Some policies may have waiting periods or exclusions for pre-existing conditions. Review the policy details to ensure that your specific medical needs are adequately covered.
As I mentioned above, another factor is evaluating the ease and efficiency of the claim process for inpatient benefits. Look for policies that offer direct billing to the hospital, eliminating the need for you to pay upfront and then seek reimbursement.
A few other areas to check would be policy limits, for example maximum coverage for treatments etc. Research if your insurance provider offers any additional services to their inpatient benefits such as medical evaluations.
Last but not least, consider the cost of the insurance policy and whether it aligns with your budget as an international expat. Compare the premiums against the coverage provided and weigh the benefits against the cost. Keep in mind that while cost is important, it should not be the number 1 determining factor.
Be Careful With Insurance Companies Not Offering Good Inpatient Benefits
Now, I do strongly advise being cautious when dealing with insurance companies that do not offer good inpatient benefits. Most of the time, this is companies offering travel insurance. There is a big difference between travel insurance and medical insurance.
I always say to my customers, it is essential to thoroughly review the coverage that you have been quoted by insurance companies so you can ensure that you receive comprehensive protection for inpatient care.
Inpatient benefits are a crucial part of your insurance coverage policy, especially for international expats who may require hospitalisation in unfamiliar locations. Without sufficient coverage, you will be left facing significant financial burdens and limited access to quality healthcare.
Insurance companies that do not offer good inpatient benefits may have limitations or exclusions that can leave you vulnerable in times of medical need. They may have low claim limits, restrictive networks of hospitals, or cumbersome claims processes that make it difficult to receive timely and appropriate care.
A reputable insurance company will provide very clear and transparent terms and conditions, coverage levels and make it easy for you to understand. Also they likely pay hospitals directly and don’t make you pay deductibles.
Conclusion
Ok, so let’s wrap it up there. To quickly summarise, understanding your inpatient benefits is crucial for anyone who is seeking comprehensive medical insurance coverage. Especially for those of you who are international expats or digital nomads. We have tailored nomad insurance here.
By being aware of the coverage scope, network of hospitals, claim process, policy limits, and additional services, you can easily make informed decisions and choose the right insurance provider for you.
Also, don’t forget to carefully review your insurance policies and be cautious of companies that do not offer good inpatient benefits. Don’t leave yourself out of pocket or left with a massive hospital bill because of some dodgy insurance company 😆.
Anyway, I hope that you understand inpatient benefits a bit more now and please don’t hesitate to ask any questions in the comments below or share some advice with others reading this blog.
