Choosing health insurance , like any insurance, is a complex task. However, it is essential not to make a mistake in the choice or we could pay dearly if necessary. And when we say “paying very expensive” it is literal if the insurance does not cover the intervention or center that we need.
For this reason, the Seguros.es comparator is a unique tool to facilitate this work and get 2 of the 3 important things in life right. For you to choose a health insurance that guarantees your recovery and, of course, at the best price. But what are the most relevant aspects when selecting health insurance?
1.- Do I really need private health insurance?
In Spain, all those who have access to the public health service can say that they already have health insurance. What’s more, a health insurance with highly qualified professionals and highly advanced facilities. We could say then that private health insurance is only a second protection, for those occasions when public insurance fails. However, the current saturation of the public system implies that the service is not always of the quality and promptness of action that we would like. For this reason, private health insurance is becoming a tool of primary need, with very high-quality offers, with a multitude of possible combinations in the service provided and with very reasonable prices.
2.- How much am I willing to pay for private health insurance?
There are 3 types of health insurance.
Between € 30 and € 70 per person and month are the most common insurances, which are known as ” medical insurance “. It means that clients have unlimited access to the company’s medical chart (to the group of doctors and centers with whom it has signed an agreement), without making any additional outlay, except for small copays that we will talk about later. The service usually covers both medical consultations and diagnostic tests as well as surgical interventions with hospitalization.
Starting at € 60 per person and month, the “ medical insurance plus reimbursement ” is available. It means that clients have unlimited access to the company’s medical chart, as well as to any doctor in Spain and the world as long as the client pays in advance and sends the invoices to the company to reimburse the amount (usually between 80% and 90%). Again, the coverage usually includes a diagnostic consultation and surgical intervention with hospitalization.
Between € 20 and € 35 per person and month, and responding to a market demand, in recent years “ medical insurance that only covers medical consultation and diagnostic tests ” has become popular . This is an interesting option for those people who want to receive a quick diagnosis, but who prefer to undergo surgery in a social security center.
3.- Am I interested in taking insurance with copays?
The word ” copayments ” is not popular since it was considered to introduce it in social security. However, it is a very interesting option for those who hardly use (or would use) private health insurance, since it allows to significantly reduce the price of insurance in exchange for paying a small amount each time we go to the private doctor. For example, in the case of a company currently available, the co-pay option is € 10 cheaper per month and person. In insurance for 3 people it is € 30 per month. If the copayment is between € 3 and € 5 per visit, and we go to the doctor less than 6 times a month, the option with a copayment will be less expensive.
Likewise, it is worth noting the appearance of the so-called “medical charts” or “health clubs”. These initiatives allow you to buy a product comparable to medical insurance (technically they are not insurance, although in practice they can be difficult to differentiate) for a price between € 3 and € 8 per person per month. In these cases, the price to pay in a consultation can be € 25, lower than the doctor’s “standard” rate, but much more expensive than the insurance copayment.
4.- What insurer includes my usual doctors in the medical chart?
Even for those who are going to take out reimbursement insurance, it is recommended that the doctors we frequently go to are on the medical chart of private insurance. These health professionals are the family doctor, the pediatrician for children, the gynecologist for women and a specific specialist that each person, for their health, needs to visit frequently. To check the medical charts within our health comparison , in the coverage detail you can press the “Medical Chart” button and check which companies include your regular doctors in their chart, or
5.- What is the fine print that I should read and know about my insurance before hiring it?
Like any contract, health insurance has many limitations. These limitations are usually detailed in the general and / or particular conditions of the policy. The main factors that we must assess are:
Total economic limitation per insured and year, that is, the maximum amount that the insurer will pay for treatments to an insured person over a year. The limit is usually between € 100,000 and € 150,000, although there are offers between € 20,000 and € 1,000,000.