Page 40 - MEDICAL AND HEALTH INSURANCE
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MEDICAL AND HEALTH INSURANCE
HEALTH CASH PLANS
Health cash plans are generally known as 'hospital income plans' or
'hospital indemnity coverage'. The policy pays a specific amount of
monetary value for each day an individual is hospitalised arising out of
illness, sickness, disease or injury. In some plans the coverage may pay for
accidental confinement only. The indemnification is directly to the Insured
and not to the hospital. It is not intended to cover the medical expenses of
hospitalisation but to provide a flow of income to the Insured from the day
the Insured is hospitalised, until discharge.
The amount per day and the coverage up to a specified number of days for
the year is specified in the plan. Some plans may include an elimination
period in which the coverage will commence on the second day or third
day of the hospital confinement. There may also be exclusions on pre-
existing conditions as well as other standard exclusions found in any
normal PMI policy.
Generally, this type of plan is marketed through telemarketing by the
financial institutions in Malaysia.
SECOND MEDICAL OPINION
Second medical opinion or 'second surgical opinion', as it is generally
known, is offered in policies that offer surgical expense benefits as in
individual or group PMI policies.
This coverage allows the Insured to consult a second specialist to
determine whether a surgical operation for the same disease or injury is
required, in view of the Insured's medical condition.
The usage of this benefit is optional even if it is provided in the benefits.
Generally, such second consultation must be rendered within 30 days of
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