How To Effectively Navigate Hospitalisation Claims

In Singapore's competitive employment landscape, many companies offer various types of health insurance as part of their employee benefits. It is also typical for individuals to obtain their own health insurance. For example, Singaporeans and Permanent Residents are likely to have an Integrated Shield Plan.  

This may lead to confusion when it's time to file a claim. However, there's no need to worry, as we’re here to explain how to manage your hospitalisation claims and emphasise the key points you should remember when insuring a company. 

How to Decide Which Policy You Should Claim From 

To begin with, if you possess multiple health policies, it's likely that they come with different claim limits and coverages. It’s essential to remember that you have the right to select any one of your insurers to process your claim. 

We understand that most people dread reading through the many pages of policy wordings as it can be a tedious process. So, what steps should you take if you hold several health policies and are uncertain about which one to use for your claim? 

Although there is no hard-and-fast rule, we typically suggest that you start by filing a claim through your employer’s group hospital insurance. 

Why Should You Claim From Your Company’s Group Hospital Insurance First? 

There are two primary reasons for this—firstly, it could help lower your personal expenses like deductibles and co-insurance. Your individual health insurance plans may not cover these expenses, but your employer’s group hospital insurance likely will. 

Secondly, claiming from your company’s group hospital and surgical insurance will help to preserve your personal health plan’s claim limit. This ensures that the claim limit under your personal insurance policy remains intact for any future claims. 

Obtaining a Letter of Guarantee (LOG) 

A Letter of Guarantee (LOG) is a written document issued by the insurer to the hospital, confirming that the insurer will cover the medical expenses for a patient. This serves to waive the upfront payment for your surgery and inpatient costs, allowing you to focus on your recovery rather than worrying about immediate financial obligations. Additionally, the hospital will directly submit the bill to the insurer after discharge, simplifying the billing process.  

To obtain a LOG, first check with your broker or insurer if your policy offers this facility as not all plans offer LOG. If your policy does offer LOG, let your broker or insurer know about the surgery and provide them with the necessary details in order for the LOG to be issued. 

What Documents Are Required For An Unpatient Claim? 

While the documents required might differ slightly depending on the procedure or medical conditions, here are some of the typical documents that insurers will usually request from you when making an inpatient claim: 

• Inpatient discharge summary
• Finalised tax invoice
• Referral letter (if any)

Do note that this list is not exhaustive, and your insurer may request for further information after your claim has been submitted. 

After touching on the various aspects of hospitalisation claims, we hope that you are now more familiar and comfortable with the claims process. If you have a policy with us and still have any doubts, feel free to contact us and our team will be happy to assist. If you are looking to get Employee Benefits Insurance, you can check out our aggregator or email us to get a quote.