Expats, take cover

When you are living abroad, many of the otherwise available support systems tend to disappear. Your decision to create a home away from home becomes the foundation on which you build and grow one decision after another. Good health care is one of the most important things to sort out for yourself and your family. But when you are in a new country, you are often guided by your circumstances.

Saba Amin, a Pakistani homemaker who has lived in UAE all her life, compares her childhood to that of her children's. "In the early 80s when my brother and I were small, mum would take us to a doctor who most of our friends went to. The trust and dependence was largely on word of mouth. Medical facilities were fewer and there was less need for tests and follow up visits, etc. But it's different now. I do my ground work before taking my boys to a doctor. I visit hospital websites, check the portfolios of the doctors and also get the know-how on what accreditations they have and what facilities are available. I think the consumer today is more aware and curious."

Do your homework

An emergency can happen any time. Judy Ayaap, a Filipino saleslady, didn't know what to do when she first experienced a vertigo attack. "My world was in a spin. It was too early in the morning to call anyone for suggestions. My husband and I had to decide quickly. There was no time to check if the nearest emergency ward was covered under our insurance plan. I was admitted, given treatment and discharged. There was no follow up or assurance from the doctor about what had happened to me. I felt lost." Due to her tight schedule at work and lack of internet access at home, Ayaap was unable to find out more. She did, however, ask her friends to support her and they suggested another visit to a different doctor. "I wish there was a system to know which [hospital] is a better place to get medical help for certain concerns," she says.

"Make sure the health-care service provider has the specific area of expertise that will cater to the need of the patient. A multi-specialty facility is advisable as they have various specialities under one roof," says Dr Hari Menon, GM - Operations and Business Development, DM Healthcare Group. He adds that it is important to look for accreditations issued by Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) or other recognised bodies. "Whether the doctor speaks the same language as the patient's is also very important for easy communication," says Menon.

Acceptance of insurance cards and price tariffs are other factors. "Most health-care providers today provide patients with various points of contacts, including websites, call centres and enquiry counters within the clinic premises. But eventually the patient has the right to choose a clinic/doctor based on his/her comfort level," he says.

"All health-care insurance companies have a list of impanelled clinics and hospitals. The best option for insurance cardholders would be to approach the nearest impanelled health-care provider in order to facilitate faster administrative matters such as payments, etc. Nevertheless, it is also important to know your health insurance policy well so that users are aware of the exclusions, co-payments and other clauses while in a clinic/hospital. When a person is not covered under health insurance, the best decision is to identify the most cost-effective health-care provider based on the paying capacity of the user. Affordability is the only factor that plays the key role when you decide on a medical facility/doctor in case you do not have an insurance coverage," he says.