Health insurance

Voluntary health insurance, medical insurance

One of the most popular types of insurance in Kazakhstan. Health insurance in Almaty, Nur-Sultan (Astana) and throughout Kazakhstan began to develop actively right after the arrival of foreign investment. This was linked to the growing activity of foreign capital, whose insurance culture regards health insurance not only as a way to improve employees' conditions but also as a necessity and an integral part of doing business in a civilized manner.

Low prices for health insurance and high-quality medical services do not always go together. Health insurance is for the most part a low-margin line, owing to the limited coverage or uptake of this product among individuals. If this article has not answered your questions, see related articles.

Who buys health insurance:

1. Health insurance for legal entities – in Kazakhstan, health insurance is most often purchased by legal entities. The reason for this is quite simple:

• social security for their employees;
• attractiveness to new employees;

• company employees do not spend valuable working time restoring their health.

2. Health insurance for individuals – at present, not all insurance companies accept individuals for insurance. Because of its low popularity and/or purchase only when needed, health insurance among individuals leads to high losses, and the risk — that is, the probability of loss for an individual — is difficult to calculate. Individuals mostly take out a health insurance contract when they already have a condition requiring constant or periodic treatment, which leads to even greater unpredictable losses.

Health insurance contract

In Kazakhstan, a health insurance contract can be concluded with almost any insurance company, but as everywhere, there are industry leaders. For advice, contact the insurance brokers and agents in the Association's register.

Stages of concluding a contract. Before concluding a health insurance contract, the first step is to agree on the health insurance programme.

We recommend tailoring the health insurance programme individually and taking the company's needs into account.

In the contract, pay special attention to the exclusions — what is not covered.

Stages of a health insurance contract: agreed programme, insurance application, discussion of contract terms, signing of the contract, payment.

How health insurance works

Health insurance is the only type of insurance in which an insured event will occur with 100% probability. People are sure to use at least one option: get dental treatment, buy medicines, consult a doctor.

The procedure for using health insurance is the same at almost all insurance companies; remember that you will be served by the insurance company's assistance service:

1. first, the call centre – where the specifics of the illness are clarified and the patient is booked with a doctor or specialist;
2. if you need a dentist, you can go directly to the clinic;
3. in an emergency or when calling an ambulance, the insurance company's assistance service is notified afterwards.

Health insurance prices

Health insurance, like all voluntary types of insurance, is not regulated by law: all contract terms are agreed by the parties and are limited only by knowledge of the insurance market and the qualifications of the insurance company's representative.

In summary, health insurance is an effective tool for reducing medical costs. Health insurance prices are reasonable, and anyone can find a suitable programme.