Shoulder elbow and hand orthopaedic conditions are some of the most common presentations to the general orthopaedic surgeon. Optimal diagnosis and treatment of such conditions requires a good health insurance policy with a receptive health insurance provider in the UAE. Pradeep Balasubramanian, Dubai, explores some of the most common problems of the upper limb and how a good insurance company and policy can help to diagnose and treat them.
Pradeep Balasubramanian Dubai explains that there are many insurance companies providing health insurance in the UAE. Rules for health insurance vary in each emirate and it is mandatory for the employer sponsoring the employee to provide health insurance for the employee in some emirates.
In a bid to outdo competition many insurance companies tend to charge low yearly premiums to companies where they get bulk business and in turn provide an insurance policy with the lowest network, to a network with financial interests or outsource to a third party. The insurance company and the employer are in a win-win situation here. The looser is the employee who is often not covered for many congenital, pre-existing or work-related conditions or is offered substandard cover within restricted networks which he/she is not even aware of at the time of employment until he/ she is afflicted with a serious problem. Also, many insurance policies do not take into account previous policies or previous terms to consider pre-existing conditions.
Substandard insurance policies are where even basic medicines or investigations are not covered and qualified specialists are repeatedly questioned for their decision making, in ordering tests or recommending treatment. Basic medical treatment is often delayed blaming the delay on the treating physician for not responding to queries, which should not have been be in fact raised in the first place, for basic treatment.
If in fact treatment is approved, it is approved in parts further delaying treatment. Approved amounts for surgery may also be meagre, forcing the treating surgeon to cut corners and having to take responsibility for substandard results. Also such companies do not pay the health care providers in time and may claim bankruptcy forfeiting all previous payments. The delay may be so excessive, expats are often forced to return to their home country for proper care or are forced to pay exorbitant amounts of money from their pocket for standard care in the event of an untoward medical emergency. They maybe left with permanent medical disability due to this delay.
In the current covid scenario travelling has made it harder for employees in such a situation and they are left dangling to choose between the devil and the deep sea.
Visitors to the country are often parents of long-term expats. Insurance companies unfortunately do not have the provision to provide health insurance cover for visitors as it is linked to the Emirates ID. Even if they do have travel health insurance, it has limited cover. Families must be sure to take proper health insurance cover for such visitors prior to their arrival into the country.
According to Pradeep Balasubramanian Dubai, a shoulder, elbow, and hand surgeon in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, most people are prone to some upper limb injury or condition in their lifetime. Pradeep Balasubramanian of Dubai identifies that these problems may require specialist attention. Unfortunately, many insurance companies have tie ups with clinics or hospitals which may not necessarily have a specialist experienced in treating upper limb conditions. The insurance policies thus restrict the freedom of choice to the policy holder to choose their treating surgeon wisely. Often even if patients decide to get their treatment with a physician of their choice, their insurance policy may not be covered in his/her facility.
After spending over a decade with patients who have suffered from upper limb conditions, Pradeep Balasubramanian Dubai will offer the best possible treatment individualized to every persons needs. He understands how the insurance system works here in the UAE and can recommend ways around how to get approval for investigations or treatment for your shoulder elbow and hand condition. He recommends switching to an insurance company that is responsive to its client, which may not necessarily be a policy or company that offers higher premium. He also recommends taking a policy where surgery is covered in a facility well equipped to deal with complex problems, should one arise. He also reminds people to pay attention to the employer-offered health insurance policy which needs to be scrutinized in details before accepting a job offer.
One must be willing to pay a higher premium with companies that will be receptive to the individual clients’ needs. Unfortunately, many health insurance companies do not offer the convenience of monthly premium payment or upgrading in the middle of a policy to higher cover. A health insurance mindset change with citizens, residents and authorities is the need of the hour. Health is happiness and Dubai is aiming to be the happiest city in the world to live in. After all there are some things money can’t buy, and orthopaedic upper limb health is one of them!
More About Pradeep Balasubramanian