People choose to seek medical treatment overseas for many reasons, and you may be weighing the same option right now. That makes it worth knowing which health insurance plans can be used abroad, and how they work in practice.
There are plenty of health insurance products that can be used outside Indonesia. Before we look at which insurers offer them, let’s walk through how treatment abroad with health insurance usually unfolds, so you know what to expect from the first step to the last.
How to Get Treated Abroad With Health Insurance
In broad terms, this is the process you will go through when using health insurance for treatment overseas.
- Research the countries you might choose for treatment.
Your insurance company can usually provide a list of countries covered by its network, and these become the candidates for your destination. If your plan has an annual limit or a list of eligible treatments, ask about those at this stage too.
Once you have the list, gather more information about each country. Start with how easy it is to get treatment there and what the medical policies are, then look at other practical matters such as the weather, local culture and community, visa requirements, and the general cost of living during your stay. A destination that suits your condition and your comfort can make recovery noticeably easier.
- After choosing a country, decide which hospital to visit.
Once your destination is set, you can request the list of hospitals within your insurer’s network in that country. From there, use the internet to learn more about each hospital, and look for patient reviews and any accreditation it holds.
Useful details include consultation hours, the facilities the hospital provides, the qualifications and training of its doctors, whether the hospital offers an international patient service, and whether interpreters are available if you are not comfortable with the local language.
- Prepare and complete the required documents.
Make sure every document you need for treatment abroad is complete before you leave. You can consult your insurance officer, who can help you work out exactly what to prepare, such as your policy details, a referral letter, and your previous medical records.
The documents you need also include those the hospital requires for submitting a reimbursement claim, especially if you choose the reimbursement payment system. Keep originals and copies of everything, and confirm the claim deadline with your insurer so a late submission does not put your refund at risk.
- Choose the cashless payment system whenever possible.
To make treatment abroad easier and more practical, you are strongly encouraged to choose the cashless payment system instead of reimbursement. That way you do not need to pay out of pocket at the start. You simply show your insurance card to a hospital that is a partner of your chosen insurer, and the hospital handles the billing with the insurance company. It is still wise to ask in advance which costs fall outside your coverage, since those are usually paid by the patient.
International Health Insurance Providers for Treatment Abroad
The presence of many insurance companies in the Indonesian market is a real advantage for the public. It gives you more choices for healthcare, and it makes it possible to receive treatment overseas with the protection of an insurance plan.
Some international insurance companies that operate in Indonesia include the following.
- Allianz
- AXA Mandiri
- Cigna Indonesia
- MSIG Indonesia
- Prudential
- Tokio Marine Asia
Although the choices are plentiful and varied, that does not mean you can pick a plan carelessly. Coverage for overseas treatment differs from one product to another, so compare the covered countries, annual limits, waiting periods, and exclusions before you decide.
You still need to be careful and thoughtful when choosing an insurer that is officially licensed and has international reach, and also fits your needs, your medical condition, and your financial situation. Reading the policy terms in full, and asking the insurer to clarify anything unclear, will save you from surprises later.
That wraps up this overview of how to get treated abroad using insurance, along with a list of insurers whose plans may be used overseas. We hope the information is useful for your planning.
