Reimbursement of your medical expenses

Reimbursement of your medical expenses: it is always interesting to have more insight on how your medical expenses will be reimbursed. How many people are working at the claim administration? Is there a medical department? How many languages are spoken? How many languages are available 24/24? What are procedures? How long will it take to get reimbursed? In which currency are you refunded? Can you change it whenever you want? …

If you subscribe to a Top Up plan with the CFE, it is very interesting to know if:

  • you will have to send your request for reimbursement first to CFE and afterwards to your private Insurance Company? or,
  • what will happen in case of emergency? For example: do you benefit direct payment in case of hospitalization?
  • can you send everything directly to your private Insurance Company which manages coordination with CFE through its agreement. Because this will significantly reduce the time to obtain reimbursement and will be more efficient and comfortable for you!

reimbursement of your medical expenses

Reimbursement of your medical expenses – bank transfer

Bank transfer is part of the reimbursement process even if it is done by a bank (third party) and not by the Claims Administrator. Make sure that regarding the transfer no costs will be incurred. This is quite important because if you earn 5% on the premium on one side, but you have to pay 10% fees on the other side, each time for your reimbursement. For example: 10 Euro fees for a 100 Euro reimbursement. In that case, you probably better select another company.

Besides, pay attention to the average time it takes to get the reimbursement on your bank account. You will never have access to the agreement between the Claim Administrator and banks, but you may consider the global population covered. The claims administrator is probably in a better position to negotiate the cost of each bank transfer when it covers 400 000 lives than 50 000 lives, for its competitor.

reimbursement of your medical expenses

Reimbursement of your medical expenses – services and supports

Regarding supporting documentation and services, make sure that you receive from your provider the following documents:

  • General conditions or Information Leaflet,
  • Particular conditions or Table of Benefits,
  • Claims forms (request for reimbursement, prior approval),
  • Member cards, – Helpline is available 24/365 (to get information on your plan or reimbursement, to organize direct settlement in case of hospitalisation / emergency…),
  • Online services to download your claims statements, modify your details…

 

reimbursement of your medical expenses

Please pay attention to the local regulation

Please note that subscribing to an international health insurance does not free you from the local regulations. If you are eligible to contribute to a local healthcare system, make sure that you are compliant. Otherwise, you may be subject to paying a tax levy