The first thing you need to consider when attempting to personalize your plan is the hospital network and the services available. Your plan will largely depend on the level of services you require and which doctor(s) and\/or hospital(s) you wish to have access to. Let\u2019s take a look at the following questions to help you personalize your plan.<\/p>\n If you already have a favorite doctor, make sure the doctor is in your insurer\u2019s hospital network. Doing so will give you peace of mind knowing that you\u2019ll be covered whenever you visit your doctor for treatment.<\/p>\n If you come from a country that speaks mainly English or a foreign language you are already familiar with, choosing a hospital with multilingual staff may be one of your requirements.<\/p>\n It\u2019s better to choose a hospital that can deal with your needs without running the risk of miscommunication or not being able to communicate at all.<\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: Multilingual staff are likely to be found in private hospitals that specialize in seeing foreigners and expats from abroad. But that\u2019s not to say some public hospitals don\u2019t offer the same. It\u2019s just that the quality and services may vary substantially.<\/p>\n Further reading<\/strong>: An overview of Latin American healthcare systems<\/a><\/p>\n Not everyone can withdraw a substantial amount of cash at a moment’s notice.\u00a0 So if you are planning to receive treatment at private hospitals, then be warned that medical bills don\u2019t come cheap. What’s more, you could end up in financial difficulty. On the other hand, public hospitals could be a lot cheaper but the level of services may not be up to your standards. After all, you get what you pay for.<\/p>\n Now that you\u2019ve questioned yourself on what you want from an insurer\u2019s hospital network, it\u2019s time to understand the level of coverage, and which one suits you best. Let\u2019s take a look at the following levels of coverages:<\/p>\n If you want to make your plan as affordable as possible, you can opt for inpatient only. This level of coverage refers to any treatments that involve an overnight stay (or longer) at a hospital. Examples of fees that are likely to be covered include surgery, ambulance, prescribed medication, etc.<\/p>\n The add-on benefit of outpatient coverage means you are covered for all expenses that don\u2019t require hospitalization. This option is fairly common for expats from abroad since outpatient visits and their associated costs can add up substantially over time.<\/p>\n Additionally, the limits can be fairly sensible too but, of course, the premiums for coverage are a lot more than inpatient-only plans.<\/p>\n Further reading<\/strong>: Inpatient vs outpatient insurance: Key differences explained<\/a><\/p>\n This option offers the most coverage in terms of benefits available to the policyholder. Typical benefits included are dental coverage<\/a> and maternity coverage, which may be more relevant to individuals with specific health needs.<\/p>\n In addition, you may want to consider cover for pre-existing conditions. (Note<\/strong>: These are medical conditions you’ve already had before your plan enrollment.)<\/p>\n Unfortunately, insurers are likely to offer plans that exclude pre-existing conditions. However, if you would like to personalize your plan and include cover for pre-existing conditions, they may place an additional premium or a waiting period on your condition. To add to your knowledge, a waiting period is the time you have to wait before your insurance kicks in.<\/p>\n Note<\/strong>: Expats planning to give birth abroad are encouraged to secure health insurance<\/a> with maternity insurance<\/a> attached.<\/p>\n![\"Individual](\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.lat\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/WP-Banner-revamp-final-20221207_1.-Single-final.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n1. Consider the hospital network and the services available<\/h2>\n
Do you have a favorite doctor?<\/h3>\n
Do you prefer multilingual or English-speaking doctors?<\/h3>\n
How much can you afford?<\/h3>\n
2. Consider the level of coverage from your chosen insurer<\/h2>\n
Inpatient only<\/h3>\n
Inpatient and outpatient coverage<\/h3>\n
Comprehensive coverage<\/h3>\n
Do you have any pre-existing conditions?<\/h4>\n