What is the process for qualifying for health insurance?
Countries like South Africa offer a National Health Service for every citizen, meaning they are provided with health insurance covered by Social Security and National Insurance funds.
However these coverages are usually quite poor and basic, not staying up to par with the intense medical advancements and costs associated with the moving technology.
Employers have done their best to help support their employees, as some public and private sectors offer health insurance benefits to their employees. It’s a nice feature but once again sometimes the coverage lacks or isn’t offered at all.
The rest of the nation that is not covered by employee benefits must take an alternative route. Either they can stick with state health coverage and their poor options or upgrade and seek a private insurance company. You can contact these private health insurance brokers in person or online.
The insurance broker will request a medical physical after coming into contact with the provider. They will schedule a date and time that fits with your busy schedule. At the medical physical, a doctor or medical assistant will study your health. One of the most important aspects of the physical is determining the quality of your vital organs, including heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver.
Some people hate physicals because of the personal questions the doctor will ask the patient. The patient might get offended, but unfortunately it’s part of the physical process. The doctor will ask questions about smoking, drinking, and drug use as well as personal diet and fitness questions. The personal weight of the patient is always heavily monitored and commented on.
Along with the weight, the doctor will gage the possibility of future diseases based on past family diseases and disorders. In medicine, doctors have found a common link between current diseases in patients and the same disease found in older family members. So family hereditary diseases are studied and scrutinized.
After the physical is completed, the doctor will fax the information over to your insurance provider. The insurance agency will examine your medical records closely and heed to any advice from the doctor. Entire staffs at insurance agencies spend their entire day judging these reports and deciding who and who doesn’t qualify for health insurance.
In conclusion, if you are a healthy and active individual, you are almost guaranteed to qualify for health insurance. However, individuals that are overweight or smoke are causes for concern and health hazards.
Take care of your body, eat properly, and exercise. These three simple steps will leading to a more satisfied and happy you, and will also greatly reduce the odds of an insurance agency accepting you into their family.
Graham McKenzie is the content Syndication Manager at insurance123.co.zaSouth Africa’s leading Health Insurance information portal.