Free things are rare to come by in life. When you are paying for health insurance, it’s easy to feel like there’s nothing free to enjoy. But this is actually not true and you could be missing out on free health check-ups with your medical insurance. Most medical insurance has a clause that lets you check your health status every year – and without it affecting your premiums!
Medical insurance works in a rather straightforward manner. You take out insurance and pay a premium. If you need medical attention, your insurer will cover most of the cost for you. This can help a lot, as medical treatment can be costly – even for minor injuries or illnesses. This is true to many places, such as Dubai. Medical insurance in Dubai is not only beneficial in terms of avoiding the costly medical care but also mandatory. You need to have medical insurance in the Emirate to live and work. That’s why you want to make sure your health insurance in Dubai is the best it can be.
Similar rules apply to other regions as well. In many cases, you’ll need to have medical cover to ensure you don’t end up in a tricky financial situation. But the good thing is that your medical insurance isn’t only beneficial in the case you get sick or injured. It can provide you with regular health check-ups and make sure you take care of any arising health issues before they get worse.
How to check what your insurance company offers?
Most medical insurance offers free health check-up. If yours doesn’t for some reason, it might be a good idea to change your insurance provider. Swapping medical insurance is typically easy and you can compare health insurance providers online.
If you have existing health insurance, then check what type of health check-ups are on offer. You can do this by checking your insurance policy documents. If you are still not sure, feel free to contact your health insurer directly.
Most insurers offer free health check-up on an annual basis. You can’t just have your health checked whenever you want. But an annual medical check is a good idea and something many of us don’t do. Most people only go to the doctor when something is wrong. But it can be a good idea to regularly check how your body is doing. Check-ups can help detect major issues early and therefore, make it easier for you to recover from an illness.
In addition, you might notice that the free health check-up is only available after a specific number of claim-free years. So if you have had your health insurance for multiple years without making a claim, you can take advantage of the free health check-up. The benefit is often not available immediately after taking health insurance. How long you need to have built claim-free years depends on the insurer. With some, it could be just a few years and with others, around 5 years. Some insurers may offer it even after the first year so do check with your medical insurance company.
How to get a free health check-up organized?
When you want to take advantage of your free health check-up, you just need to contact your insurer. Your insurance provider should have a free number you can call or if you know they have branches near you, visiting those might be a good idea. Your health insurer will ask a few questions about you and your policy. They will then provide you with a date and time for the health check-up. As with any health insurance treatment, you will have to attend a doctor that’s approved by your insurer. If you insist on getting your health checked in a non-network hospital, then you might have to pay for it initially. The tests will then be reimbursed later.
What is included in the free health check-up?
It is important to keep in mind that certain exclusions might apply to your health check-up. Typically, the tests included are routine medical tests. This includes things like:
- Blood sugar test
- Blood count test
- Urine test
- Cholesterol check
- ECG
However, these might differ from insurer to insurer so make sure to check with the health insurance provider before booking the tests. You should also check the cost of tests. This means that you’ll only be reimbursed for a certain amount. Tests that go over that free threshold need to be paid for by you. Make sure you understand these terms and conditions before you take the free health check-up.
Can your medical insurance premiums go up as a result?
You might find it scary to go for a free health check-up. What if the doctors find something and then notify the insurer? Wouldn’t your insurance company just increase your premiums?
The short answer is no. Your medical insurance company won’t increase your premiums if the health check-up finds something that needs fixing. If you have a health issue, then you can get treatment and your insurance premiums will stay the same.
However, your health insurance premiums could go up once your insurance is up for review. Your medical insurance is typically renewed after a certain amount of time. This allows you to check if you want to change providers and ensure your insurance meets your needs. If you have a new health condition that you didn’t have when you initially took out the insurance at this time, then your insurance company could increase your premiums.
Stay healthy and happy
Your medical insurance should always work for you. But it’s wrong to think it can only help when things go wrong. Free health check-ups can be a great way to monitor and maintain good health. You should definitely take advantage of them. Not only are they free, but they can mean you spot any serious issues as soon as possible.