<![CDATA[What does your health insurance agent do for you?]]>Thanks for sharing. It seems to me that very much like housing agents, the service standards are very variable, from hardworking and conscientious to downright bochap and do-the-minimum. Perhaps the difference is between a "career" agent and a part-time agent so it may do well for us to consider the individual mindset before selecting an agent.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/90604/what-does-your-health-insurance-agent-do-for-youRSS for NodeTue, 23 Jun 2026 10:36:53 GMTTue, 13 Feb 2018 23:59:27 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to What does your health insurance agent do for you? on Tue, 13 Feb 2018 05:19:42 GMT]]>

ammonite:
Any type of private health insurance.

I have several experiences (4 for myself and 2 for son so far) in medical claims and so will share my 'understanding'.

Most who have bought their med insurance years ago may not be able to find back their original agent with policy likely to be assigned to a new comer who may or may not touch base with the policyholder. So in times of queries, best to call helpline.

Agents are unlikely to reply on the speed of claims as each claim is processed by the insurer who has to liaise with the hospital that has the control of the speed of when it can churn out the final bill (for hospitalisation case). They may give a rough guide of 'within 14 days' but will never commit on any time frame as this is beyond their control.

For pre and post hospitalisation claims, then will have to depend on whether the claims documents submitted are sufficient else may delay.

The two biggest common fine prints I encountered so far are:

1. whether the policy covers day surgery (I have one that covers and one doesn't cover)
2. whether you need a GP letter to see a specialist (I also have one that needs and one that doesn't need).

So far, I have never gone thru my agents to do any claims for me as I feel doing on own is much faster with claim forms and procedures clearly available on websites. Going through the agents just mean an extra loop of work / time. They normally will require the insured to post the mails to them then they mail to the insurer - really waste time and mails may get lost and waste more time.

I have never expected them to meet me to take the documents somehow as I respect their time as well as my own.

For my cases, speed of reimbursement ranged from 10 days to 2 months (mostly due to documentation issues that certain doc cert maybe required and doc took his own time to reply etc).

Med policy has a recurring commission of about 10% but it entails much more work/time in times of claims/servicing. Policies have many fine details, esp on the 'specifications' of 'critical illnesses' that most of them also will not be able to remember/understand all and need to check. The fastest way is still to call the helpline direct and do own claim application instead of waiting for replies from the agent (if the claims fall into 'fine prints').

Other general sharing:

Most agents dislike doing Travel Insurance as so many nitty gritty for that miserable commission amount. They rather clients to buy over websites on own to save the hassles (of claiming damaged luggage, then have to trace airport report, luggage receipt etc etc. Make this kind of $ really also cannot grow meat...)

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1833669https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1833669Tue, 13 Feb 2018 05:19:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What does your health insurance agent do for you? on Mon, 12 Feb 2018 22:36:01 GMT]]>Any type of private health insurance.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1833583https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1833583Mon, 12 Feb 2018 22:36:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to What does your health insurance agent do for you? on Mon, 12 Feb 2018 11:15:37 GMT]]>Do you mean the integrated shield plan? I don’t even remember the agent

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1833557https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1833557Mon, 12 Feb 2018 11:15:37 GMT