Many global companies send their employees for international assignments in different countries. These employees are called expatriates. Seeking medical facilities in your native country is easier than in foreign countries.
Usually, MNCs cover medical expenses in their insurance policies. Therefore, to seek medical facilities that insurance companies provide in another country, medical insurance translation services can be very helpful.
Global Medical Plans
Devising the medical plan for expatriates is a very tough job for HR. Employees that are on international assignments in foreign countries require the best healthcare services. This is because apart from physical ailments, employees also suffer psychiatric problems like depression and homesickness.
MNCs face challenges in setting premiums in different countries. The first challenge is benefit design. This occurs when expats are working on different continents and in different countries. This is because each country has a different healthcare system along with distinct insurance markets.
Mercer, a subsidiary of the global professional services company,(Marsh McLennan) which focuses on risk, strategy, and people has come up with a plan that can cover three-quarters of the client base. According to them, the single ex-pat medical plan can also give medical leverages to the employees that are operating in different countries having different medical infrastructures.
An extensive and specialized plan is required for employees that are working in the Arabian Gulf region. This is because, in the Gulf region, there are limited social provisions assigned to non-nationals.
Contrary to this, private insurance is not necessary for all levels of medical care in countries like the United Kingdom because healthcare services are accessible to everyone. To understand the global medical plans of different regions, medical translation services can be of great help.
Things that are Covered in Expatriate Health Insurance Policy
Let’s have a look at key things that are usually included in expatriate health insurance policies.
- Wide range of medical care benefits
- Provision of healthcare services regularly
- Referral services to get state-of-the-art medical care services
- Quick emergency evacuation and rehabilitation services
- Getting access to top medical practitioners from around the world
- Reimbursement of medical expenses in five working days
- Payment claims should be in your currency
- Getting access to healthcare services around the clock
- The flexibility in healthcare plans so that they can be used according to healthcare coverage requirements
Does Expatriate Insurance cover in Home Country also?
Expatriate insurance plans are specially designed to provide the best healthcare services outside the country. This question is often asked whether this insurance plan can cover the illness in the home country also. The answer is; not always.
You can avail of benefits in your home country for only a few days. After that, they deny your medical claim. Some medical insurance plans provide 2 weeks of the home country coverage whereas others provide benefits for 6 months.
Also, insurance reimbursements depend upon your coverage plan. Healthcare is very expensive in the USA. Therefore, you may find restrictions in their home country’s insurance policy.
Which Hospitals are Added to Insurance Companies Panel?
There are no specific criteria for insurers to include specific hospitals in their list. Some of the insurance companies provide you with a list of known hospitals and you can select according to health requirements. In some cases, insurance companies include the hospitals in their panel after on-site evaluation.
Why Medical Localization is Important for Foreign Patients’ Treatment?
To provide the best healthcare services to the expatriate, the medical practitioner should take help from medical localization services. Why? Because it eliminates the language barrier and facilitates smooth communication. And as a result, not only both the patient and doctor can communicate easily, the patient feels more comfortable as well.
In addition to removing the linguistic barrier, localization helps to cater to cultural sensitivity and leads to better patient care.
Simply put, medical localization helps foreign patients get a better, safer, and more comfortable treatment experience.
The Challenge of Insurance Costs Control
Many global organizations provide medical insurance to expatriates. However, they look for ways to cut down the expenses. For instance, many policies don’t cover parents, as older people are more prone to diseases, and their medical treatment usually costs more.
In recent years, many countries have improved their medical infrastructure. They provide the best health services to expatriates at reasonable prices.
The problem here is that expatriates are emotionally attached to some healthcare brands and separating them from these medical brands hinders the cost reduction in medical insurance.
Here, medical localization can help them opt for improved medical infrastructure because it makes treatments comfortable for them.
Conclusion
Understanding the global medical plans, expatriate insurance policy, finding hospitals in the insurance panel, and getting state-of-the-art medical treatment can be done through an effective communication strategy. Here is where you need the medical translation company. They provide you with information in the language that you understand.
