If you’re working in Bulgaria and qualify for state health benefits, you may still want to have private insurance, owing to the limitations of the state health service.
If you already have private health insurance in another country, it may be possible to extend it to cover you in Bulgaria. Bear in mind, however, that in some countries (e.g. the UK) insurance companies may automatically cancel your insurance policies without telling you if you inform them that you’re moving abroad permanently!
When changing health insurance companies, make sure you inform your existing insurer and that any previous insurance claims have been settled.
WARNING
If you’re planning to change your health insurance company, you should ensure that no important benefits are lost, e.g. existing medical conditions won’t usually be covered by a new insurer.
If you don’t have an international policy, shop around for the one that best suits your requirements. Most international insurance companies offer health policies for different areas, e.g. Europe, worldwide excluding North America, and worldwide including North America.
Most companies offer different levels of cover, e.g. basic, standard and comprehensive. There’s always an annual limit on medical costs and some companies also limit the charges for specific treatment or care such as specialists’ fees, operations and hospital accommodation.
Most private health insurance policies don’t pay family doctors’ fees or pay for medicines other than those provided in a hospital, or they charge a high excess, e.g. you must pay the first €75 of a claim, which can often exceed the cost of treatment.
A medical examination isn’t usually required for international health policies, although ‘pre-existing’ health problems are excluded for a period. Most international health policies include repatriation or evacuation, which may also cover shipment (by air) of the body of a person who dies abroad to their home country for burial. An international policy also allows you to have non-urgent medical treatment in the country of your choice.
Check whether an insurance company will settle large medical bills directly with a hospital. The major international insurers don’t have ‘recommended’ hospitals in Bulgaria.
WARNING
If you’re required to pay bills and claim reimbursement from an insurance company, it can take several months before you receive your money.
It isn’t usually necessary to translate bills into English or another language, although you should check a company’s policy. Most international health insurance companies provide emergency telephone assistance.
The cost of international health insurance varies considerably according to your age and the extent of cover. With most international insurance policies, you must take out a policy before a certain age, usually between 65 and 70, to be guaranteed continuous cover in your old age.
When comparing policies, carefully check the extent of cover and what’s included and excluded from a policy (often indicated only in very small print), in addition to premiums and excess charges.
Although there may be significant differences in premiums, generally you get what you pay for and can tailor premiums to your requirements. The most important questions to ask yourself are: does the policy provide the cover required and is it good value?
If you’re in good health and are able to pay for your own out-patient treatment, such as visits to your family doctor and prescriptions, the best value is usually a policy covering specialist and hospital treatment only.
When deciding on the type and extent of private health insurance, make sure that it covers all your family’s present and future health requirements in Bulgaria before you receive a large bill. A health insurance policy should cover you for all essential health care whatever the reason, including accidents (e.g. sports accidents) and injuries, whether they occur in your home or while travelling.
This article is an extract from Buying a Home in Bulgaria
from Survival Books.