Choosing Health Insurance

Willing umbrella before it rains. That phrase is appropriate to have careful planning in anticipation of the worst possibilities, including in terms of health financing. In an age which is totally complex, have health insurance seems more important considering the cost of care and treatment of disease is getting more expensive and unpredictable.


However, choosing the right insurance also is equally important so that you are not harmed in the future. Well, here is a brief exposures within the rubric of Dr. Samsuridjal Djauzi health consultation that was published Kompas, Sunday (22 / 6).Dr. Samsuridjal revealed his views about what to consider before selecting a health insurance:

 Question:

My in-laws 61-year-old traffic accident and need to undergo brain surgery. Thankfully the operation went well and he is healthy again. Only, he was forced to deplete savings he collected for years because of hospital expenses reached USD 20 million. I can not imagine if he had no savings, how the difficulties to be faced. I just got married a year ago. Although our new family, we are planning a health insurance clients. We feel that today's health care costs increasingly expensive and those costs can not be predicted. We have insured cars, because it rightly, we also entered the health insurance. Is not health is a precious blessing of God that need to be maintained at all times?

It's long enough that we plan and health insurance we have contacted several companies. However, we still have difficulties in choosing health insurance. We're being cautious because we're afraid the wrong choice. In terms of our funds have clearances. My wife and I worked so has the spaciousness of funds to pay insurance premiums.

We are especially careful after hearing many complaints an insurance participants were disappointed with health insurance services in Indonesia. Some acquaintances we even chose to go on the consideration of foreign health insurance is more reliable and more extensive coverage of its services. Apparently health insurance services in Indonesia dubious. What was promised was not in accordance with the services provided.

He said, at the time described the officers insurance policy offers all easy. If enough customers get sick just thinking about his illness and the insurance company that will clean up all the costs. In practice, many exceptions that must be considered.

As a doctor who often serve patients who have health insurance, whether the doctor can recommend a good health insurance company? What should be considered before choosing a health insurance? Doctor's advice we needed because my field is finance, while the architect's wife. So, we do not understand the health insurance.Thanks for the explanation of the doctor.

Answer:

Your intentions and wives have very good health insurance. One of the problems in our health services are health care financing. Approximately 70 percent of Indonesian people to fund their own doctor or hospital costs, while health costs continue to rise.Increasingly sophisticated medical technology increasingly expensive health care costs.

Increased health costs not only happen in Indonesia, but throughout the world. Factors that increase the cost is the price of medicines, medical equipment, as well as physician fees, physician fees although the actual element is just a small part of overall health costs.

Although we have been maintaining good health with caution, the disease can occur without warning. Traffic accidents such as experienced in law, for example, an occurrence that is common to families in Indonesia, even approximately 30,000 people die each year because of traffic accidents. So, it is very wise to familiarize yourself Indonesian families protect themselves with health insurance.

By regularly pay a premium, if fallen ill with the assistance of health insurance so that no incriminating family expenditure. We often see families who have to pay fees owed to the hospital.

Actually, in my experience, today's health insurance in Indonesia has been quite good. Support health insurance will depend on agreements between customers and insurance companies. The greater the premium paid more complete support for insurance.

Therefore, you need to look at the support of health insurance coverage before choosing health insurance. Does coverage include outpatient services and hospitalization? Is there a particular disease that is not secured by insurance companies?

Also worth noting where the service. Are you able to choose doctors or hospitals you want or are limited to a designated hospital? All must be considered, including when the effective guarantee applies. For example, there are certain health insurance just beginning guarantee after 30 days after signing the agreement.

Health insurance services are now very diverse. In addition to offering financing guarantees when ill, there is a combine with certain services, such as the premium paid in part will be treated as savings or investment.

Obviously this offer attractive, but usually offered insurance premiums will also be larger. In addition, they are actually participating in the younger age insurance program would get some ease, for example, unnecessary medical examinations and also to remember insurance premiums will increase with increasing age of the customer. So, get health insurance at a young age.

Although you and your family will already be a customer of health insurance, healthy lifestyles should still be carried out. It's certainly a better fit than the costs borne illness despite medical insurance. So, do not leave a healthy lifestyle has become a customer even though health insurance.

I understand the challenges facing Indonesia today's young families. I feel happy to place the health of your family as important elements that need attention. Well, I hope you and your family will be healthy and happy always. (Dr. Samsuridjal Djauzi)

Source : http://nasional.kompas.com/read/2008/06/22/14430512/memilih.asuransi.kesehatan

Health Insurance

Drug spending estimated at $30 billion in 2008

April 16, 2009 - Total drug spending in Canada is estimated to have reached $29.8 billion, or $897 per Canadian, in 2008, according to figures released today by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). This represents an estimated annual growth rate of 8.3%, an increase that exceeds other major health-spending categories, such as hospitals and physicians. In 2008, spending on drugs accounted for 17.4% of total health spending—nearly doubling since 1985 (9.5%). Spending on prescribed drugs continues to grow faster (9.0%) than spending on non-prescribed drugs (4.6%). Prescribed drugs are estimated to have accounted for 84% of total drug spending in 2008.

“Over the last 20 years, drugs have consistently remained one of the major cost drivers in health care,” says Michael Hunt, Manager of Pharmaceutical Programs at CIHI. “Spending on pharmaceuticals has more than doubled over the past 10 years, outpacing growth in health spending by hospitals, physicians and other health professionals.”

Spending on prescribed drugs growing faster in the private sector

For the third consecutive year, private-sector spending on prescribed drugs grew at a faster rate than that in the public sector. Private-sector prescribed drug expenditure reached $12.6 billion in 2007, and is forecast to have reached $14.0 billion in 2008, representing annual growth rates of 11.4% and 11.0%, respectively. Public-sector expenditure on prescribed drugs reached $10.5 billion in 2007, and is forecast to have hit $11.2 billion in 2008, representing annual growth rates of 7.6% and 6.7%, respectively.

The public–private split for total prescribed drug spending remained relatively stable over the past 20 years, with approximately 45% financed by the public sector and 55% financed by the private sector. However, among private-sector spending on prescribed drugs, the share of spending shifted from out-of-pocket spending to private insurers. Spending by private insurers is estimated to have accounted for 67% of private-sector drug spending in 2008, compared to 55% in 1989.

“The economic downturn is resulting in many Canadians losing their jobs. Since many Canadians have private health insurance through their employment it may also mean a loss of private health insurance,” says Hunt. “In light of this situation, it will be important to document what the impact will be on both the public sector as well as out-of-pocket drug spending over the next few years.”

Variation among provinces on prescribed drug spending

Prescribed drug expenditure per person varies across Canada. In 2008, prescribed drug spending per person is estimated to have ranged from $651 in Alberta and $652 in British Columbia to $841 in Quebec and $865 in Nova Scotia.

There is also variation among the provinces in terms of the source of funding for drugs. On average across Canada in 2008, 44% of total spending on prescribed drugs was publicly financed. The proportion of public spending on prescribed drugs ranged from 32% in New Brunswick and 34% in Prince Edward Island to 50% in Quebec and 54% in Saskatchewan. Public-sector spending per person on prescribed drugs ranged from $236 in B.C. and $253 in P.E.I. to $377 in Saskatchewan and $420 in Quebec.

International comparison in drug spending

When comparing 23 countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) with similar health-reporting systems as Canada’s in 2006 (latest available information), Canada had the second-highest level of total per capita drug spending (including prescribed and non-prescribed drugs). The United States had the highest level of 2006 per capita spending ($1,015) followed by Canada ($770) and Belgium ($703)—the position of Canada has been stable over the past few years.

In 2006, Canada was below the OECD median in terms of what proportion of total drug spending was publicly financed. The public share of total drug spending in Canada was 39%, compared to the OECD median of 59%. Among the 23 OECD comparator countries, the share of total drug spending funded by the public sector ranged from 15% in Mexico to 84% in Luxembourg.

About Drug Expenditure in Canada, 1985 to 2008

Drug Expenditure in Canada, 1985 to 2008 provides a descriptive overview of Canadian drug expenditure trends from 1985 to 2006 and includes estimates for 2007 and 2008. Drug expenditure consists of prescribed drugs and non-prescribed products purchased outside hospitals and other health care institutions. The report draws upon data compiled from CIHI’s National Health Expenditure Database, Canada’s most comprehensive source of information on health care financing and spending, as well as Statistics Canada and the OECD.