What distinguishes health insurance, health plan, and health card?

Do you already know the differences between products and are just looking to hire health insurance? Get straight to the point: use the services of Poupança no Minuto mediators. If you want to first understand which product is most suitable for you, continue reading the article below.

What is health insurance?

Health insurance is a policy that covers costs related to health services, according to the coverage options chosen.

By contracting health insurance, you have access to coverage for certain medical expenses, not having to bear them or partially bear them, through the payment of a premium (usually monthly).

Not having health insurance, it may include some coverage options, but others not (exclusions), such as work accidents, occupational diseases, or pre-existing conditions.

How does health insurance work?  

A health insurance has two operating systems when it comes to refunding healthcare expenses.  

It can be through a reimbursement system, where the policyholder pays expenses directly and the co-pay amount is later refunded, or through direct payment by the insurer to the service provider included in the conventional network. There may also be insurances with a combination of both systems.

With regard to the refund amount in the refund system, you should know that it will be specified in the policy.

• Maximum percentage of co-payment;
• The value available in each coverage.
• If it exists, the value of the initial deductible for each coverage.
• The maximum deadline for requesting the reimbursement of expenses, from the date they were incurred.
• The maximum deadline for the insurer to reimburse the policyholder.

But in the direct payment system, just know that when paying for medical expenses, you only pay the part that is not covered by insurance, if the service provider is included in the network. This is because the part that is the responsibility of the insurer is paid directly to the service provider at that moment.

What is the difference for health insurance?  

Health insurance also operates through a network of providers, where included entities provide access to healthcare at a lower cost than non-adherent users. However, the network of providers is more limited than in an insurance or health card, and payment is always made through a reimbursement system, with the customer paying first.

Health insurance is also a more targeted option for a client's personal needs, with more specific coverage.

Unlike health insurance, the health plan has no waiting period, age limits to contract and maintain, deductibles or maximum limits.  

Furthermore, the amount you pay does not increase as you get older, just like health insurance premiums.  

And, in this case, there are also no exclusions for pre-existing conditions, as no exams or medical questions are conducted prior to contracting. 

What distinguishes insurance and plans from health cards?  

The health card is a more simplified option, with fewer health services covered. It provides discounts on some medical procedures like specialty consultations, nursing, and exams, but overall does not cover hospitalization.

Just like health insurance, the health card differs from health insurance in that the network of providers is smaller, there is no waiting period, age limit, no exclusion of pre-existing diseases, and the cost is lower.  

In this case, the discount is made at the time of payment after the clinical act, and not by reimbursement.

Despite the issuing entity of health cards not being an insurance company, they are the same ones that issue and market this product.

To clarify any doubts regarding health products, the Savings Minute insurance intermediaries can help. And to take out health insurance, you should also turn to them: they provide a free and efficient service, so you can subscribe to your insurance without complications.