{"id":1113,"date":"2018-06-08T14:23:17","date_gmt":"2018-06-08T06:23:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/?p=1113"},"modified":"2023-08-04T16:54:33","modified_gmt":"2023-08-04T08:54:33","slug":"comparing-expat-health-insurance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.sg\/blog\/comparing-expat-health-insurance\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving to Singapore? Tips for comparing expat health insurance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Living and working overseas is a fantastic opportunity but also one that requires a bit of careful planning to ensure your experience is a smooth one. Securing the right healthcare as a foreigner is often one of the biggest choices you\u2019ll need to make. In Singapore, the standard of care is very high – but also very expensive. If you know you\u2019ll need your own private medical plan to cover these costs, Pacific Prime Singapore is here to help when comparing expat health insurance<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

Do I need my own health insurance in Singapore?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Many expats that are brought to Singapore for work are generally offered health insurance via their employer. This is because local government Medisave subsidies for healthcare don\u2019t apply to non-citizens or those without Permanent Residency. Those that don\u2019t have employer-provided health benefits will generally find it better to secure their own expat health insurance. <\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Even if you do get insurance through your employer, the coverage can sometimes be inadequate. Group insurance plans generally aim to satisfy the majority but those with trickier or more complex health needs might find such plans come up a little short. For times like these, <\/span>top-up insurance<\/span><\/a> options might help. <\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s a good way to approach comparing expat health insurance?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Knowing the market and its products is key to making the best decision for your medical insurance. Here are some key things to think about when comparing expat health insurance: <\/span><\/p>\n

Know who you\u2019re buying insurance from<\/span><\/h3>\n

There is a wide range of insurers, both global and local, that you can purchase your Singapore medical insurance from. In these options, you\u2019ll have varying levels of coverage plans and benefits, as well as service and claims processing levels. Search for info on prospective providers online or get in touch with an independent broker to get an idea of who you might be giving money to. <\/span><\/p>\n

Understand your plan options<\/span><\/h3>\n

Everything from benefit types (such as inpatient, outpatient, dental, maternity, etc.) to plan levels (sometimes referred to as Bronze, Silver, Gold or another description), the flexibility of products in the market is what can make comparing expat health insurance tricky. Part of knowing what to include requires that you have an idea of what your specific health needs are and what might be. The more comprehensive your plan options, the more expensive your premium. <\/span><\/p>\n

Set appropriate policy levels<\/span><\/h3>\n

A deductible or an excess is a payment that you\u2019ll make out-of-pocket when making a claim – while your insurance plan covers the rest. While it might make you think \u201cIf I\u2019m paying anyway, why get insurance?\u201d the truth is, co-pays help keep your premium (the price of the plan) lower. In addition to co-pays, you\u2019ll also want to set appropriate policy maximums (the total amount to which claims can be made in a year) to ensure you\u2019re adequately covered. <\/span><\/p>\n

Check the policy eligibility and coverage area<\/span><\/h3>\n

Some plans are designed for certain types of people, or people from specific regions. Plans can place restrictions on people of a certain age, while others might not apply to some nationalities. Some countries, such as the United States, have more complex insurance needs – so it\u2019s not uncommon to find international coverage plans that either include or exclude the US.<\/span><\/p>\n

Find out how the policy renewal works<\/span><\/h3>\n

With the nature of insurance and the increase of health risks as we age, it\u2019s common to see plans cease being renewable after a certain age. This is not to say that you become uninsurable after you turn, say, 75, but simply that that specific insurer will not renew your coverage. Other plans, however, can offer lifetime guaranteed renewal. <\/span><\/p>\n

Ask about plan networks and billing options<\/span><\/h3>\n

In order to keep costs down, many insurers will engage a network of approved providers in Singapore that can make seeking healthcare and processing claims much faster. Seeking care from outside the network may still be possible under some insurance policies, but sometimes you may find care providers outside the networks are uncovered. <\/span><\/p>\n

Billing options can also have a big impact on your experience with insurance. The traditional way for health insurance worked was: an individual would seek and pay for care themselves, then submit a claim to the insurer to be reimbursed. More recently, insurers have moved to direct billing services – meaning the insurance company and the healthcare provider work out the claim between them and you simply have to show an insurance card to receive treatment. <\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s my best option for comparing expat health insurance in Singapore?<\/span><\/h2>\n

While it\u2019s entirely possible to compare your health insurance options on your own, the fastest and easiest way to weigh up health insurance in Singapore is to engage the services of an expert and reputable broker. <\/span>Pacific Prime Singapore<\/span><\/a> has relationships and experience with all major insurers not only in Singapore, but also at the global level, meaning you can count on our advice to put you in the best position possible when securing medical coverage. <\/span><\/p>\n

For a free quote, check out our <\/span>online quotation tool<\/span><\/a> and start comparing expat health insurance right now. If you\u2019d rather talk to one of our industry-leading consultants, <\/span>contact the team<\/span><\/a> at Pacific Prime Singapore today! <\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Get<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Living and working overseas is a fantastic opportunity but also one that requires a bit of careful planning to ensure your experience is a smooth one. Securing the right healthcare as a foreigner is often one of the biggest choices you\u2019ll need to make. In Singapore, the standard of care is very high – but …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":1114,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[770,36,918,768,917,919,920,315,30],"class_list":["post-1113","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-expat-insurance","tag-ban_gen","tag-choosing-health-insurance","tag-comparing-expat-health-insurance","tag-cta_gen","tag-expat-insurance","tag-insurance-comparisons","tag-insurance-quotations","tag-insurance-tips","tag-singapore-health-insurance"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMoving to Singapore? 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