Health Insurance Offers And Discrimination
Offers
The insurance market has many insurance company players and this has led to a rush to register as many clients as possible. They have devised many ways, including health insurance offers in order to get the clients they need. Knowing that many people are now conscious of their health and register in health clubs or gymns, the insurance companies have followed suit and partnered with several health clubs to give offers.
Such offers are actually good as they enable you get the insurance you need at a cheaper quote and enjoy free services at the health club or gymn. You can find yourself saving up to $100 on premium annually and a good percentage off the monthly gymn rate if you join. Others insurance companies offer up to six months free membership at health club upon signing an insurance policy with them.
Some of the insurance products that accompany such offers are;
a) Low cost service: This in most cases applies to in-patients. If admitted in a health facility and may be on a deductable type of insurance where you have to pay part of the bill out of your pocket, you enjoy much lower cost.
b) Low out-patient medical costs: If not admitted but required to have regular visits to see your doctor, you enjoy paying very little out of your pocket. You may find yourself enjoying out of pocket savings of up to $800 in a given year.
c) Premier Service: In this case, you can find yourself not only enjoying out of pocket savings of up to $800 but also having no annual maximum for either in-patient or out-patient services.
Health Insurance Discrimination
Cases of discrimination have not escaped from the insurance industry. A number of insurance companies have been penalized by their regulating authorities for acts of discriminating their clients on the basis of the client's health factors. Several insurance regulatory agencies worldwide have enacted laws that prohibit discrimination based on an individual's health status.
Causes of such discrimination
a) Health factors: You are not obliged to provide a health insurance company with your past medical history when taking out insurance. This is an act of discrimination and is unlawful in most countries. Should you find difficulties on what information to divulge, get the assistance of your lawyer to help you.
b) Injury: Some insurance companies have discriminated those who have sustained injuries while on recreational activities. This should not be the case and legislation to prohibit this exists in several countries to protect those insured.
c) Work: Some insurance companies may insure you while you are employed and will immediately terminate the policy when you leave employment. This they do even if you are in a position to continue paying the required premium. This is an act of discrimination and is illegal.
d) Wellness programs: These are becoming common in work places, encouraging employees to take up healthy living lifestyles. These programs are mostly spearheaded by health insurance companies. There have been instances where discrimination acts have occurred in the course of running these programs, where an individual finds out that a decision has been made by the insurance company to increase his/her premium because of his/her health status. Legislation have been put in place by the concerned regulatory agencies to ensure that such programs are designed and run in non-discriminatory manner.