MEDICAL INSURANCE POLICIES

More than one person I know has been very disappointed in the red tape involved when one has a real emergency. All of the medical insurance policies promise that in an emergency for which a list is provided, one has to request an auth number from their service provider. You are then permitted to go to casualty at any private hospital where you will be stabilised and should you need to be admitted, you will be treated in that hospital. Should the casualty staff manage to stabilize you but you are not actually admitted, you will be sent by ambulance to the nearest state hospital. THE CONFUSION AROSE IN MY SITUATION WHERE I WAS CONCUSSED BY A BAD FALL, SAW MY GP WHO SUGGESTED THAT I TAKE IT EASY AND SEE HOW I FEEL. AFTER 2 DAYS I FELT NO BETTER AND MY DR SUGGESTED I GO TO CASUALTY. CALLED DISCOVERY. I WAS TOLD BY ONE OF THE CONSULTANTS THAT I COULD GO TO ANY HOSPITAL STRAIGHT AWAY AND BE ATTENDED TO. I CALLED BACK FOR AN AUTHO NUMBER ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT I ONLY HAD 48 HOURS FROM THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT TO REPORT IT AS AN EMERGENCY AS AFTER 48 HOURS IT WAS NO LONGER AN EMERGENCY! THEORETICALLY AS I HAD BEEN TO THE DR THE SAME DAY OF THE ACCIDENT, I HAD "REPORTED" IT. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD EXPLAIN TO FLEXICARE THAT I NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION AND A CT SCAN BUT OH NO, THEY DON'T PAY FOR THAT EVEN IF I'D BEEN ADMITTED. I HAVE TODAY RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM FLEXICARE TELLING ME THAT THEY HAVE INCREASED MY PAYMENT QUITE SUBSTANTIALLY! I COST THEM ALMOST NOTHING IN 2024 AND WHEN I REALLY NEEDED THEM THEY WEREN'T THERE FOR ME. PLEASE READ THE FINE PRINT VERY CAREFULLY IF YOU INTEND TO GO THE ROUTE OF A MEDICAL INSURANCE POLICY