Forum: Puzzled by stance of insurance company

In the ongoing debate over the Allianz offer for Income Insurance and the cost of health insurance, I would like to share my story to show how illogical health insurance companies can be in dealing with claims.

I have been insured with the company with a social mission for more than 20 years after my retirement.

Recently, I had a biopsy done at a well-established imaging centre on my doctor’s recommendation. After it was done, I wanted to submit a claim for the procedure through my agent.

To my surprise. I was told that I was not allowed to make the claim for two reasons. One, my biopsy was done at a clinic and not in a hospital. Also, the referring doctor and the imaging centre were not on the panel of my insurer.

When I discussed this with my doctor a few days ago, he said it seemed illogical that the insurer would willingly pay much more for the procedure to be done in a hospital, even though everything is the same when it is carried out in a reputable clinic.

He could not understand why the insurer would not want to save a substantial sum of money that perhaps could be used in its social mission.

One can imagine how many more cases like mine could have been done outside hospitals and the amount of money saved.

This is one area the Health Ministry should look into in its review of the health insurance industry. Such a waste of money should not be allowed to continue.

Sia Cheong Yew