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Post # 1
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Join Date: 27 Apr 2010
Location:  KuwaitPosts: 303 |
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Expatriate Medical Insurance & Health Insurance Guide |
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Kuwait has a very sophisticated health information system, and all data regarding morbidity and mortality, as well as vital health statistics, are accurate and reliable. Ever since its independence in 1961, the leaders of Kuwait planned for it to become a welfare state, and in effect Kuwaiti citizens enjoyed one of the most comprehensive welfare systems in the world. The health plan, as part of the total socio-economic development plan and health policy, is based on three principles: maintenance and promotion of health in the people; improvement of physical, mental and social well-being of the people; and reducing morbidity, disability and mortality as much as possible. In this respect, health goals have been defined as long-term and medium or short-term. The health system is based on three levels of health care delivery: primary, secondary and tertiary health care. Primary health care is delivered through a series of health centres, with general or family health clinics, maternal and child care clinics, diabetic clinics, dental clinics, and preventive care clinics, school health services, ambulance services and police health services are also available. Secondary health care is provided through six general hospitals. Tertiary health care is provided through a number of national specialised hospitals and clinics. The regionalisation of the health care delivery system is now complete so that each of the six general hospitals, along with a number of health centres which refer to it, constitutes a health region. The regionalisation of the health system, which covers six health regions, has resulted in more efficient delivery of health services.
The Ministry of Health is responsible for the establishment and functioning of the health care network. During the Iraqi invasion, most medical facilities were devastated and reduced to shambles. One of the Government's primary tasks after liberation was to bring health care system back on rails in the shortest possible time. A network of local clinics and polyclinics provides primary health care to the people. Foreign residents are entitled to treatment here. The clinics deal with preliminary examinations and routine matters. Public Hospitals Kuwait is divided into five Health Regions. Each region has a general hospital -- the Amiri Hospital in Kuwait City, Jahra Hospital in Jahra, Farwaniyah Hospital in Farwaniyah, Mubarak Al-Kabir Hospital in Jabriya, and Adan Hospital in Fahaheel. Each general hospital provides an outpatient service and a 24-hour emergency service. Kuwait also has several speciality hospitals, covering a range of specialisations from chest and heart diseases to neuro-surgery and cancer treatment. Dental Clinics The main public dental clinic is behind the Amiri Hospital in Kuwait City. There are many other public dental clinics throughout the country; most of which are attached to local medical clinics. Free Services and New Charges Kuwaitis receive all medical services at government clinics and hospitals free of charge. Before 1994, expatriates were also entitled to free medical services, but now they are charged for certain non-emergency procedures. All emergency and outpatients services are still free for expatriates. They are not charged for medication provided by government hospital pharmacies on prescriptions from hospital doctors. Private Medical Care There are many private clinics and hospitals in Kuwait. The Government monitors them, ensures a high standard and regulates the fees charged. Most private hospitals have their own pharmacies. Most private hospitals are also general hospitals with some speciality departments. Medical Insurance Medical insurance, such as Expacare, can be bought in Kuwait. Local group insurance is also available. Pharmacies In each major area -- Kuwait City, Hawally and Nugra, Salmiya and Rumaithiya, Fahaheel and Ahmadi, Kheitan and Farwaniyah -- at least one pharmacy stays open all night by rotation; a particular pharmacy's opening night and telephone numbers are shown daily in the newspapers and also on KTV 2 after the 8 o'clock evening news. Maternity Care Many of the general hospitals run by the Government have maternity wards.The government-run Al-Sabah Maternity Hospital in west Shuwaikh, is probably one of the best maternity hospitals in the world, providing a comprehensive range of ante-natal, delivery and post-natal care. The Al-Sabah Maternity Hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including more than 100 ICUs, and a highly trained and dedicated staff. There are also several private hospitals offering maternity care. All maternity hospitals, public or private, require a couple's marriage certificate for their records. Blood Banks The blood bank is situated in Jabriya. Equipped with the latest technology, it supplies blood to public and private hospitals in Kuwait. Donors are always welcome. Relatives of those undergoing operations are requested to make donations in order to maintain supplies. Opticians Sight tests are usually free and prices for prescription lenses are fairly reasonable. Common corrective lenses are available from stock and new glasses can be delivered within 48 hours. Persons with complicated prescriptions may have to wait several weeks, as the ground lens must be imported from abroad. Source: kuwait-info.com HEALTH INSURANCE There’s a large number of international companies specialising in private health insurance in Kuwait and elsewhere. Comprehensive health insurance costs from around $50 ($35) per month for regional coverage. However, price shouldn’t be your only consideration when comparing policies, and you should also consider the benefits of different policies. As with all insurance, when taking out a health insurance policy do some homework and check the small print, particularly regarding what is and isn’t covered. All policies include limitations and restrictions; for example, ‘pre-existing’ medical conditions are unlikely to be covered, certain occupations are often excluded or attract surcharges, and high-risk sports aren’t usually covered, although the definition of ‘high risk’ does vary from one insurer to another. Many companies also limit costs for a particular treatment within a calendar year, in addition to having an overall annual limit for all treatment. Be suspicious of policies that restrict the number of days that you’re allowed to spend in hospital. There might be an upper age limit on acceptance for a scheme and, if you’re offered a private health policy that terminates at retirement, it would be wise to avoid it; if you’re forced to obtain a new policy at the age limit, it will be very difficult to find one at a reasonable premium – perhaps at all. Note that some companies terminate your policy at the end of the stipulated period if they believe that the costs they’ve incurred have become too high. If you’re purchasing an international policy, note also that some policies exclude cover in the USA, owing to high medical charges there. You can often pay to have different areas or types of cover added, but it might be expensive to do so. Bear in mind that insurance companies can be very particular about their claim forms and are strict about them being filled out fully by the relevant doctor or dentist. Many medical professionals understandably find this tedious, but you must insist that it’s done to order. Dental Insurance Full dental insurance can be very expensive and if, you want extensive cover, you must purchase a ‘gold standard’ health plan. Emergency fillings and extractions are normally included in standard health plans, but when it comes to more specialised treatment involving crowns, bridges and other prosthetics, the costs escalate substantially. Even ‘gold standard’ policies have exclusions, sometimes with regard to the content of fillings, the number of visits to a dentist and the volume of work carried out in any year. Policyholders also need to check that cover includes x-rays and simple cleaning. Cosmetic procedures and children’s orthodontics aren’t included in most plans (if they are, the premiums are usually high). |
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