How to get treatment abroad using health insurance

Health insurance makes it easier for someone to get better access to treatment. In some insurance companies, the coverage of access to treatment is also expanded, not only for domestic hospitals but also abroad. So, how do you use health insurance if you want to seek treatment abroad? Check out the reviews below.

Why do many people seek medical treatment abroad?

Source: Forbes

Technology and medical experts in Indonesia have developed and are increasingly advanced. In fact, the government also provides an international standard hospital to support the facilities and sophistication of medical equipment. However, the public's interest in taking medical treatment abroad is still high. What is the reason?

According to Kartono Mohamad, Former Chairman of the Indonesian Medical Association, as reported by Kompas, there are several reasons why many Indonesians choose to seek medical treatment abroad.

Among them are the overall cost of treatment which turns out to be cheaper, technology that is more adequate or more sophisticated, and health services received by patients are better.

Can health insurance be used for treatment abroad?

Although health insurance makes it easy for you to pay for hospital medical expenses, each insurance company has different policies and products.

For example, the JKN-KIS health insurance, which is issued and managed by BPJS Kesehatan. Until now, BPJS does not provide services for treatment carried out by overseas hospitals.

Meanwhile, many national private insurance companies have provided health services overseas. Especially for international private insurance companies, access to treatment abroad will certainly be made easier.

So, whether or not insurance can be used for treatment abroad depends on the insurance you have.

How to use health insurance for medical treatment abroad

Before you make health insurance, usually the insurer will explain the system cashless and reimburse. You have to understand both of these systems first, so that you can use them and make the best use of them. Including to take care of the cost of going to hospitals abroad.

System cashless make it easy for treatment at no cost. You only need to show your insurance membership card to the hospital that has worked with the insurance company. Then, the hospital will check the active period of your insurance card.

If you want to seek medical treatment abroad with the system cashless, make sure in advance which hospital is working with the insurance company. Next, you need to inform the treatment plan to the insurance.

Another case with the system reimburse, You have to pay for hospital treatment with your own funds. Then, the medical expenses can be replaced by the insurance by claiming it. Before treatment, you must first confirm with a third party administrator (Third Party Administrator/ TPA).

After receiving treatment, hospital receipts or payment notes, examination records, and doctor's letters must be submitted to the insurance company for compensation. reimbursement.

Tips for medical treatment abroad with health insurance

There are several things you need to pay attention to before using health insurance for medical treatment abroad, including:

• Make sure that your policy is still active and there are no premium arrears.
• Make sure that the insurance service you choose does provide access to medical treatment abroad.
• Choose a foreign hospital that works with your insurance company.
• Make sure the action and treatment you want is covered by insurance, because there are several actions such as cosmetic plastic surgery that will not be covered by insurance.
• Verify first with the insurance for treatment and complete the required documents
• Get confirmation of medical action schedule from the hospital you are going to.
• Choose a maintenance fee that can be borne by the insurance company so that you don't have to pay the difference in costs.