Pacific Prime Analyses Bupa’s Change to Maternity Insurance in Singapore
(PRWEB) December 11, 2014 -- Bupa Global made a major policy change to their maternity insurance in Singapore in the fourth quarter of 2014. Within Bupa’s main international health insurance product ‘Bupa WHO’, the waiting period applicable for any new Bupa policies has changed from 10 months to 24 months.
Waiting periods, or moratoriums are the amount of time that must pass between taking out an insurance plan and claiming on that insurance. Client’s must wait before any maternity-related treatments can be covered, and these depending on the insurer usually range between between 10 to 24 months. This new policy from Bupa means that any and all maternity-related treatments for their customers can only be considered for coverage if they happen at least 24 months after the plan has started.
In terms of the benefits offered, there are no significant changes made. The plan is reportedly still predicted to remain comprehensive and include coverage for: child delivery in hospital, complications inclusive of medically-necessary C-sections and new-born care benefits.
Bupa has verified that the change in policy only affects new plans, and will have no bearing on existing customers who purchased their policies before October 1st 2014. Pacific Prime have stated that this extended moratorium will also not apply to ‘Lifeline’ plans, and if a member of an existing Bupa plan adds a spouse to their current policy the moratorium on maternity benefits will remain at the previous 10 months, Corporate insurance plans are also to remain the same.
The change to Bupa policies is thought to be a consequence of the rising costs for child delivery across the globe, particularly in Singapore and Asia, and it is expected that other insurers will likely follow suit and initiate similar measures in the future.
Neil Raymond, Pacific Prime Singapore, http://www.pacificprime.sg/, 3588 2979, [email protected]
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