Whether you have been an insured for a long period of time or you are new to medical insurance, being mindful of all of the benefits on your plan is important.
Reports from insurers tell us that one of the most commonly claimed for parts of a health the concept of physiotherapy cover is essential to your health insurance plan for expats is for physio. To help you understand this benefit better we have put together a hands-on guide about how physio cover on health insurance works.
Table of contents
What is physiotherapy benefit?
Many international expatriate insurance plans cover both inpatient and outpatient health care. Physiotherapy cover is a benefit or an extra cover option that can be included under the outpatient benefit. The word “physiotherapy” can be used interchangeably with the words “physio” or “physical therapy” depending on the insurer.
Why is physiotherapy so popular?
More so today than in the past we find ourselves in jobs which need less and less bodily movement as a lot of the workforce now becomes office based. Combined with this a greater understanding of how our body works it is easy to see why this benefit often gets utilized.
Physiotherapy as a treatment helps minimizes pain which potentially arises from abuse of specific muscles as well as a bad sitting posture and strains and tears in your daily life. Additionally, it can assist you in regaining movement as well as maintaining it over a long period of time.
Physiotherapy benefit on your medical insurance typically includes three elements:
1. Multiple physical therapy sessions
2. Numerous re-evaluations
3. Advanced therapy facilities, for instance, shockwave devices, ultrasound and laser.
These components can amount to large treatment expenses depending on the country which you live. As a consequence if you have concerns about this type of care, you are advised to get all these treatment costs covered by including the physiotherapy coverage option under your outpatient benefit on your health insurance plan.
What does physiotherapy benefit include?
Usually, there are two types of limit on your claim for physio treatment costs:
- Restriction on how much all the physiotherapy services costs over a period of time. For example, with April on their Essential plan they provide a benefit of USD 1,000 per year. With this type of cover you can go as many times to the physio as you wish up until you hit your overall limit.
- Restriction on the number of therapy sessions you attend. For example, with Expacare’s Intermediate Outpatient plan, you have 20 sessions of physio per year. With this there is no monetary amount which is allocated to each session which is good particularly in in higher costs countries. The number of sessions however is limited.
Essentially, the extent of your physiotherapy benefit deals with is dependent on your health insurance policy details and the price of your plan. Examples of physiotherapy treatments entail dry needling, electrotherapy, functional exercise, heat, massage, postural correction and muscle strength and conditioning training.
To claim for your physiotherapy expenses, typically, you have to obtain a referral letter from a general practitioner before you visit a physiotherapist and lodge claims for your expenses to the insurer. Ensure that all the necessary documents including the referral letter and the receipt are completely submitted. Besides, you are advised to inform your insurer in case you need to visit your physiotherapist multiple times.
Who needs physiotherapy benefit?
Two main types of people need physiotherapy benefit. They are people who play sport or people who simply spend too much time sitting with an incorrect posture in an office. Physiotherapy cover is becoming an even more popular component that people want to see on their medical insurance.
Our Advice
International health insurance providers make changes to their policies usually on an annual or bi-annual basis. Sometimes these changes will mean adding or removing benefits or benefit limits the terms and conditions. When your insurance provider makes a change, check to see how it affects you as it relates to your needs because it may require a switch to another policy.