ESSENTIAL INSIGHTS FOR SMART HEALTH INSURANCE CHOICES
By Sharone Chebon
Medical or health insurance is a highly valued employee benefit. It’s one of the most desirable benefits offered to employees.
Health insurance provides coverage for medical expenses incurred by clients and their dependents or beneficiaries. Additionally, it serves as a risk management tool that offers financial protection against future uncertainties, helping to mitigate potential financial losses. At LIB, we offer a variety of well-tailored health insurance plans for everyone that is supported by a wide and trustable network of hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and laboratories, ensuring easy 24/7 access for members and their dependents.
Why health Insurance?
Health insurance mitigates unexpected medical expenses that could lead to financial strain and ensures access to essential healthcare services. When purchasing health insurance in Kenya, consider the scope of coverage (inpatient, outpatient, maternity, dental, and optical services), network of hospitals, pre-existing condition policies, waiting periods, and premium costs. Additionally, explore value-added services like wellness programs or telemedicine. These factors help ensure you select a plan aligned with your healthcare needs and budget. Below are the types of available medical coverage and their details
1 .Individual health insurance.
Individual health plans cater to specific age groups, addressing unique healthcare needs at each life stage. Plans for children only cover typically emphasize routine pediatric care, vaccinations, outpatient visits, and treatment for common childhood illnesses, often including dental and optical services. For young adults, plans generally cover essential inpatient and outpatient care, preventive services, emergency support, and minor surgical procedures, with added options for mental health and wellness benefits. Health plans for senior citizens focus on comprehensive coverage, addressing chronic and age-related conditions with inpatient care, critical illness coverage, and regular check-ups, though these plans may have higher premiums and waiting periods for certain services. Each plan aims to meet the healthcare requirements of its target demographic effectively and affordably. Reviewing all the main features of the cover will give you a general idea of your benefits.
2. Corporate Health Plan
This health plan is designed for staff in corporates and SMEs and offered by employers as a benefit. By offering a comprehensive health insurance plan, corporates and SMEs can support their employees’ health needs, reduce absenteeism, and foster loyalty and morale within the workplace. Coverage often extends to dependents, such as spouses and children, which is a valuable benefit for employees with families. These plans provide access to quality healthcare enhancing employee well-being and productivity. These group health plans usually cover inpatient and outpatient services, including doctor visits, diagnostics, emergency treatments, maternity benefits, dental and optical care, wellness programs and hospital stays, ensuring that employees can access timely medical attention, prevent illness and promote healthy lifestyles among staff. Additional benefits like telemedicine services, annual health check-ups, and discounted rates at partner healthcare providers may also be included.
3. Family Health Plan
A family health insurance plan is designed to provide comprehensive healthcare coverage for an entire household under a single policy, offering convenience and cost savings compared to individual plans. These plans typically cover inpatient and outpatient services, including doctor consultations, diagnostic tests, emergency care, and hospital stays. They may also include maternity benefits for expectant mothers, as well as routine pediatric care, vaccinations, and dental and optical services for children. Additionally, these policies may come with annual wellness checks, preventive care benefits, and sometimes mental health support for family members. Family health plans are structured to provide both financial protection and ease of access to necessary medical services, creating a well-rounded safety net for the diverse healthcare needs of all family members
The writer is a Business Development officer at Laser Insurance Brokers (LIB)
