This is a kind of insurance policy that generally covers the cost of an individual’s medical bills and expenses. It covers fully or partially, any costs related to medical expenses for the insured. It is, therefore, an agreement between you and your insurance company, where for an annual premium, the insurer pays for your hospitalization and other medical expenses as must have been indicated in your policy. This kind of insurance can be bought for an individual, for an entire family, or a group of people (such as employees of a company).
Health Insurance is an important policy to have as it protects your health and provides financial security for medical emergencies. In Nigeria today, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is the body that regulates all other health insurance providers in the country, and these health management organizations or insurance companies aim at achieving the objectives of NHIS.
Regardless of the kind of health insurance plan you decide to opt for, there are certain conditions an individual has to fulfill in order to be regarded as eligible for any plan. Such conditions include the age criteria, lifestyle, diseases, personal habits like smoking/drinking, as well as any noted pre-existing diseases.
Health insurance companies want to be sure that you are worthy of being a client and don't come with more than the expected risk they are meant to cover. This problem is clarified through submission of a relevant related document such as a standard medical record. It is based on fulfilling the company’s guidelines and eligibility criteria that they will finally decide to sell you a suitable health plan or reject the application entirely.
Certain parameters that should be considered while comparing health insurance plans include the features of the health insurance plan, the add-on benefits offered by the insurance provider, the sum insured under the policy and the network of hospitals allied with the insurance provider. These factors are not only the major differentiating factor from competitors, but are also a testament of good service to their end customer.
Selecting a suitable health plan to protect everyone in your family or for any other needs is not an easy task. Comparison to get the best should, therefore, be based on the following crucial factors: