health insurance for parents

[aksdoc]

Dear All,

My husband & I are on Tier 1 general visa. My mother is visiting us for 6 months.I have a few questions regarding access of healthcare.
1. If she has insurance - can she walk into the G.P. surgery / hospital to get any treatment ( both emergency / non - emergency Rx)?
2. Is it advisable to buy an insurance for her here or should she have one from India?
3. which is the best health insurance company in India which covers medical expenses here?
4. Is it easy to claim back any expenses?
5. My mother is 72 years old with diabetes,arthritis, blood pressure, hypothyroidism, with allergies.
I would be grateful if you can help me choosing the best health insurance for her.she plans to come in 4 days - I would appreciate an early response to this query.
Thanks & Regards,
aksdoc

[geriatrix]

1. GPs usually do not accept private patients without upfront payment, so do check with you own and also if the insurer will reimburse such costs. Also, unless your insurer authorizes payment directly to hospital for treatment sought / needed, you will be liable to pay all costs (surgery, treatment, medicines, tests) upfront and then claim expenses from the insurer.
2.You will need to purchase cover from India.
3. Google!
4. Depends on how efficient the processes of the insurer are.
5. Pre-existing ailments are not covered, and very few insurers (in India) provide cover for 70+ age group.

You will have to pay the full cost of all the treatment you receive, including emergency treatment, given by staff at a hospital or by staff employed by a hospital. However, there are some services that are free of charge to everyone:
- Treatment given only in an Accident and Emergency (A&E) department or in a NHS Walk-in Centre providing services similar to those of an A&E department (excludes emergency treatment given elsewhere in the hospital);
- Treatment for certain infectious diseases (excluding HIV/AIDS where it is only the first diagnosis and connected counselling sessions that are free to everyone);
- Compulsory psychiatric treatment;
- Family planning services.

This said, please restrict your queries on this forum to immigration matters.


regards