Is that really true for private (unsubsidized) patients? A PLUS still covers unsubsidized patients. There was a recent parliamentary question about oncology waiting times that bears on this question. And also this parliamentary question.
In public hospitals, you can see a specialist fairly quickly if you’re a private patient. But getting appointments with specific specialists, especially senior consultants, can take time. Some don’t have any appointment slots on the online booking system. You’d need to call the main booking line and wait for a call back. Many doctors have a full rostrum of repeat patients etc.
That's the part I don't understand. The rider defends you financially because it caps co-insurance and adds substantial cancer drug-related coverage. That seems like the far bigger win.
The P Plus is somewhat like 100% pro-ration factor for non-panel providers, the P Prime is roughly 60% pro-ration factor for non-panel providers, and the A Plus is 35% pro-ration factor for non-panel providers. Looking at the numbers only, it is unlikely GE will adjust A Plus's pro-ration factor upward to avoid its A Plus plan from competing with its P Prime plan.
I guess a cap on the co-insurance might still have its value when the medical bills in a year add up large?
are you currently on 1?
I like to look at the pre-/post-hospitalization coverage windows and cancer drug coverage as a “first cut.” For public hospital A ward plans all the carriers except Income and AIA cover 180 days pre-/365 days post-hospitalization, so I’ll toss those two overboard. HSBC Life and Raffles cap community hospital stays at 45 days — rarely a constraint but I’ll toss them for that reason.
Recently AIA improved its AIA HealthShield Gold Max Plan B (covering up to public hospital A wards) pre/post-hospitalization coverage period to 12 months (pre) and 12 months (post) if the patient receives treatment in public hospitals. I think that's comparable to other companies' plans, assuming the patient does not go to private hospitals.
Good catch! That's actually a best-in-class feature now. (Isn't competition great when it occurs?) Everyone else's pre-hospitalization coverage window (for their public hospital A ward plans) is 180 days or less at last check. Maybe some of them will change, too.
I think the plan/rider switching policies might vary a bit between insurance carriers. Prudential, for example, is only allowing switches to the lower deductible riders until March 31, 2026. Starting April 1, 2026, any switching has to be to the new, higher deductible (and lower premium) riders.
You're right I am under Prudential isp. My objective is to not be affected by $3,500/6,000. Hence, I am considering between keeping my current pruextra premier lite or downgrade to pruextra plus before 31 march so that I won't be transitioned to new rider. If I am considering between these 2 options, which one do you think I should opt for?
Since I don’t think the “$3,500/$6,000” rider is a bad thing — I think it’s a good thing for most people, actually — I’d “downgrade” any time I want in these circumstances. But if for example you want PRUExtra Plus Lite Copay (a “$1,750/$3,000” rider), yes, that window closes at the end of March. I suppose if you think you’re going to “downgrade” anyway, this is one more reason to do it now.
If I downgrade before 31 March, I am eligible to downgrade to pruextra plus which is the very old rider which is not offered anymore. I believe this rider covers 100% deductible and co-payment. So probably I would downgrade to this plan.
