SimplyFinance - Insurance

Medical Cover Limitations

2008-01-08T00:00:00Z

Before you commit to any particular medical insurance plan, be sure to know exactly what you're signing up for. Your medical insurance provider will give you a promotional package with only basic medical cover information included in it. It is important to read the fine print of the actual plan before you decide to go for it. There are quite a few catches and limitations that you may not be aware of concerning your medical cover.

Fee for service medical cover plans generally do not cover routine checkups and physicals. However, most managed care medical cover does. Be sure to check that part of your policy before you make an appointment so you don't end up with more fees than you can handle.

Another limitation is that most medical cover does not cover cosmetic surgery. Most plans will cover surgery for reconstructive purposes that are caused by an accident or a birth defect, but they will not cover elective cosmetic surgeries like liposuction, nose jobs, or face lifts. Those will be out of pocket expenses. Your plan may also cover your cosmetic surgery if your doctor assures them that it is for medical reasons.

A pre-exisiting condition is another case when there may be a grey area in your medical cover. Many insurance plans make you wait from six months to a year before they will cover any treatment of a pre-exisiting condition such as allergies or diabetes. You may want to consider getting a personal health insurance policy if you are leaving one job and moving to another because there might be a time when you do not have medical cover at your new job.

A lot of medical cover still does not cover non-traditional treatments like massage, alternative birthing, or acupuncture. Medical cover plans with this type of coverage are more common now days than they used to be, but many plans still don't provide these types of options.

Mental health treatment and drug rehabilitation are not generally covered by most medical cover plans. However, you may be able to get coverage if your doctor refers you to a mental health professional or to a substance abuse program. If substance abuse occurs with mental illness, it is more likely that your medical cover will take care of these expenses.

The Association of British Insurers has compiled a list of treatments that will not be covered by the majority of medical cover options. These conditions and treatments are not covered: infertility, cosmetic surgery, self-afflicted injuries, drug abuse, kidney dialysis, preventative treatment, gender reassignment, HIV/AIDS, organ transplant, mobility aids, experimental treatment, war risks, and injuries incurred while doing dangerous hobbies.

When making a claim for an accident or injury that occurred due to the misuse of drugs or alcohol, your medical cover will most likely not provide compensation for those injuries. Check with your medical cover provider to see what their definition of the word misuse is. Different providers define the word differently.

These are just some of the most common limitations of medical cover. Be sure to carefully read even the fine print of any policy you're considering before you commit to anything. It's important to be well informed about what type of medical cover you'll be receiving so you'll know what type of treatment you're entitled to in the case that you should need to use it.

Once you've done your medical insurance research and you feel prepared to commit to a policy, allow SimplyFinance to assist you in finding the best medical cover policy for you. Simply fill out a short questionnaire, and one of our representatives will contact you shortly to introduce you to the best medical insurance provider for you based on your answers on the questionnaire.

Insufficient NHS Cover Supplemented by PMI

2007-12-06T00:00:00Z

Despite the fact that the UK government has increased investment in the NHS, private medical insurance (PMI) is increasing in popularity. It's estimated that PMI accounts for £15 billion in health services annually. NHS may provide sufficient cover for a lot of medical needs, but where NHS cover lacks, private medical insurance provides a good substitution.

There are different types of PMI plans, but generally speaking, private insurance covers acute illness or injury, elective surgery, in-patient diagnostic tests, long term disability care, care for the elderly, hospital accommodation and nursing. PMI sometimes covers out-patient diagnostic tests, out-patient consultation and treatment with specialists, and overseas cover. PMI usually does not cover treatment for preexisting conditions, general practice visits, or accident/emergency admission. All private health insurance plans are different though, so it's important to understand the fine print of a policy before committing.

Aside from the people using PMI in addition to NHS, some people choose to use private health cover to gain access to private facilities that have significantly shorter wait times. Private medical facilities generally operate at 50-60% of their maximum capacity, whereas NHS facilities generally operate at full capacity, so it's much more expedient to get an appointment at a privately run facility. In fact, during the winter months when illness is more prevalent, private hospitals are able to take on patients from NHS clinics that are unable to treat them in a reasonable amount of time.

Fixed prices are another reason that many people are choosing PMI. Hospital visits and treatments often have predetermined costs associated with them decided upon by private health cover providers. With fixed prices, people are able to go to an appointment knowing how much they'll have to pay, so there are rarely surprises when the bill is received.Aside from shorter wait lists and fixed prices, people are choosing PMI because they're able to choose which hospital they want to be treated at. With NHS, there are only certain hospitals that people are able to go to, and these hospitals are often crowded and more rundown that PMI facilities.

While PMI is being used by more an more people who want shorter wait times, fixed prices for doctor visits and treatment, and their choice of hospital, PMI and NHS are often used together to provide the most complete medical care possible. If you're interested in a PMI policy, fill out a short form, and a SimplyFinance representative will contact you shortly to connect you with a private medical insurance broker that will find the best health cover for you and your needs.

Auto Insurance Cover Abroad

2008-01-08T00:00:00Z

The sun is about to set in the distance, the open road is ahead, and there is nothing between you and your destination but the car that rear ended you a few moments ago. This perhaps sounds like a bad day, but imagine if this happened to you while you were on vacation. Now go even further and imagine that this vacation was abroad and not on the familiar soil of the UK.

Planning ahead is always important, especially when planning your holiday road trip abroad. Not only is there the obvious to take care of, travel arrangements and packing, but there is also the not so obvious, having appropriate insurance for your automobile. A seemingly carefree drive into Europe will be exactly that, carefree, when you know you have proper insurance coverage ahead of time.

Many of us spend countless hours ensuring proper protection for our car for the daily commute or casual errand. However, many insurance programs only offer protection for basic road traffic accidents, and only sometimes offer third party coverage. Most UK insurance policies will not protect you against other damages while you are abroad. This leaves you vulnerable to theft, fire, flood, or even legal matters occurring after the accident.

It is important to know that you can get minimum basic cover from getting a Green Card for driving abroad. Note, however, that the Green Card will only offer you minimum coverage and that supplemental insurance will be necessary for any comprehensive claims. The Green Card for driving is an internationally recognised document that will provide basic coverage. You will no longer need this document in countries part of the EU; however, it will still be a necessity when travelling outside of the EU.

The Green Card in itself is free and certain insurance companies offer Green Card coverage that offers basic protection for your auto while abroad. This being said, it is important to extend your coverage before travelling. The cost of extending coverage is dependent on the duration of your trip and also on where you will be traveling. Laws and regulations differ from country to country, especially outside the EU, so it is important to be informed about what coverage is best for you.

This may also be a good time to evaluate if your insurance needs match up with your current provider. Having proper coverage, and more importantly having proper coverage for the right price, is integral in protecting your assets. By filling out a short form, the insurance specialists at SimplyFinance will do the searching to find the best auto insurance rate quote for your needs. Protection against emergencies is important to any of us.

Nothing is more stressful than being on holiday and having the inconvenience associated with improper planning. Being organised can help prevent that. When looking for supplemental holiday insurance coverage, check to see if breakdown coverage is something you would be interested in. Emergency roadside assistance, costs of repair, and emergency accommodation are commonly covered by breakdown coverage. The cost may vary depending on the coverage you want, but this cost will be worth it in reassurance alone.

Preparing for your trip by getting your vehicle serviced is another important step. Along with a last minute “check-up,” make sure to keep a spare set of keys and your insurance documents in a safe and secure place. Do not leave any important documents in your car, regardless of coverage. Also, make sure you have all important documents: passport, driver’s license, and international driving permit (if applicable).

Most importantly a vacation should be just that. It is important to be safe, and prepared, but to also have fun. With this information, you can make this the trip of a lifetime, and really feel as carefree as the road that lies ahead.