Health Insurance Your questions answered

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1 APRIL TO JUNE 2017 CARE QUARTERLY 19 NO. A PUBLICATION OF THE JW SEAGON GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE EDITION Health Insurance Your questions answered Diabetes The key facts Health tips for men and women

So we ve taken this feedback on board and also added in a few general health related articles to avoid insurance overload!

2 CARE QUARTERLY ISSUE 19 HEALTH INSURANCE Q&AS WITH SIMON Dear All, Welcome to the Q2 edition of CQ. This quarter we re talking health insurance. When we asked our readers for ideas on new topics to be covered in CQ, we got lots of requests asking us to dedicate an edition to health insurance. So we ve taken this feedback on board and also added in a few general health related articles to avoid insurance overload!. Congratulations to Juliet Kennedy who was one of the respondents and the lucky winner of our Fitbit incentive from Q1. Thanks for sending us your question Juliet and we hope your Fitbit is well-received. The main feature of this edition is a special Q&A session with Simon Ashworth, our Group Head - Healthcare. Simon has tried to answer all your questions in an open, honest and informative manner I m confident you ll agree and trust you ll benefit from his insights. As always, we rely on your input to keep CQ as interesting and relevant as possible. If you have any ideas or suggestions please log into the dedicated CQ page of our website details shown below. With kind regards David@jwseagon.com Please visit the dedicated CQ page on our website. Here you will be able to download previous editions, provide any feedback or ideas and add any addresses to our CQ circulation list. HEALTH INSURANCE Q&AS WITH SIMON Thank you to everyone who took the time to write in with their questions. Some questions were easier to answer than others (!), but I ve done my best to answer each one as succinctly as possible. If anything doesn t make sense or if you need any further details, please visit or simon.ashworth@jwseagon.com Enjoy the read! Simon p.s. While this edition is all about health insurance, it s worth remembering that JW Seagon can advise on your entire insurance needs. HEALTH TIP FOR MEN It s high time to get rid of the jelly belly! Belly fat is a sign of visceral fat around the organs, which is the worst kind. It increases the risk of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Aim for a waist circumference of less Simon than half your Ashworth height no more Group than 94cm/37 Head of inches. Medical Simon Ashworth Group Head Healthcare 1 What are the key factors to consider when looking for the right health cover? For most people being in good health is a top priority. When it comes to your health you can t predict what s around the corner but you can make sure you have the right plan in place. There are lots of health plans to choose from and all aim to give you: Prompt access to medical treatment Reassurance that treatment costs will be met Access to high quality private medical facilities Choice of doctor, hospital and time of appointment Support navigating the healthcare system At JW Seagon we offer a full range of international health insurance plans. We will guide you through all the options and address the following areas: In which countries do you want to be treated? Are you comfortable with the medical facilities in the country you live in? Whilst you might be for routine treatment, if you needed to treat something more serious, would you want the option to travel to access superior facilities and expertise within Africa, in Europe or in the USA? The wider the area of cover you choose the higher the premium you will pay. What do you want treated? Do you simply want to know that the treatment of the big, serious illnesses is covered, or do you want to have cover for everyday routine treatments as well? Health plans give you the option to cover in-patient treatment, in-patient + out-patient treatment, or in-patient + out-patient + wellness, optical, and dental benefits. Whichever combination is right for you, we would recommend that you make sure your health plan includes evacuation cover (with some policies it is an option). When the right facilities aren t available locally, evacuation cover meets the cost of transporting you to another hospital where you can get appropriate treatment. This might be in a nearby town or city, or a completely different country. Whilst most health plans will not cover any medical conditions you currently have or have had in the past (often referred to as pre-existing conditions ), there are a few that may do so. Africa Wellness Solutions is such a plan. We know how important it is to cover you for the things that matter most, so instead of excluding pre-existing conditions, we look to cover them where we can, sometimes for an additional premium to cover the increased risk.

HEALTH INSURANCE Q&AS WITH SIMON HEALTH INSURANCE Q&AS WITH SIMON What is your budget?

Your choice of which countries to have cover for and what you want to have treated will affect the plan price. But there are other ways to manage the price and make your plan affordable.

On Africa Wellness Solutions, for example, a 55 year old selecting a $720 deductible would see their premium reduce by $852, or 12%.

3 HEALTH INSURANCE Q&AS WITH SIMON HEALTH INSURANCE Q&AS WITH SIMON What is your budget? For most people getting the right health cover in place is a balancing act between the extent of cover and what they can afford. Your choice of which countries to have cover for and what you want to have treated will affect the plan price. But there are other ways to manage the price and make your plan affordable. For example, with most policies you can take an annual deductible, which means you pay all claims up to the deductible amount in return for a lower premium. On Africa Wellness Solutions, for example, a 55 year old selecting a $720 deductible would see their premium reduce by $852, or 12%. Overall medical inflation in Kenya continues to increase and is even higher in Nairobi, where increases can be 15% to 20%. Traditionally, medical inflation has been about 5% above general inflation *Source: Willis Towers Watson: 2017 Global Medical Trends Survey Report 9.2% % % Why are you not offering discounts for good health? 4 How much do big operations typically cost? 3 In the UK, Vitality Health offers health insurance that rewards customers for being healthy. As well as protecting them when things go wrong, it encourages them to lead a healthier life and rewards them for doing so. The reward for 12,500 steps in a day twice a week, for example is a Starbucks drink and a cinema ticket. However, this is not something that international health insurers currently offer. There are policies that offer preventative wellness benefits such as health screens (it s much better to catch something untoward early rather than later) but there is no discount or reward for using the benefit. The starting position for Africa Wellness Solutions is that most people are in good health. As part of the application process we capture information about pre-existing conditions, body mass index (BMI), smoking and alcohol consumption and where necessary will load the premium to reflect any significant increase in risk. There s more that can be done to encourage and reward good health on international plans. And it s certainly something the JWS team will be discussing further with insurers. Why do premiums go up each year? One reason is that your age is one of the key determinants of your health plan price. As our bodies get older we are more likely to need medical treatment of some sort. So as you move to the next age band your premium will go up. The other key reason is what is referred to as medical inflation. The cost of medical care continues to rise across the globe and whilst the trend has slowed in some countries, it is still mostly above inflation*. The cost of treatment in different countries: Surgery Appendectomy UK $8009 South Africa $1786 Knee replacement Switzerland $20132 Spain $6687 Hip replacement Australia $19484 Spain $6757 Angioplasty New Zealand $13677 South Africa $6510 Drugs (costs are for a typical month s supply) Harvoni (to treat Hepatitis C) Truvada (to treat HIV/AIDS) Avastin (to treat cancer) Diagnostics UK $22554 Switzerland $16861 Spain $559 Switzerland $906 UK $470 Switzerland $1752 Angiogram Switzerland $191 UK $2149 Colonoscopy Australia $372 UK $3059 Source: International Federation of Health Plans Comparative Price Report (South Africa, UK, Spain, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, USA). The above table excludes the USA as it is always by far the most expensive. Medical inflation is being driven by: The cost of life saving, or life extending, medical innovations new drugs, new technology, new equipment. On a more positive level, whilst driving cost it does also mean that people have never had a better chance at surviving serious illnesses such as heart disease and cancer! The increased use of medical services. High blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, are all linked to lifestyle choices and are on the increase; they are the top reported conditions giving rise to adverse claims experience around the world. Helping you protect the things you care about We re delighted to announce that our new corporate brochure is now available to download. Simply visit or call us at the office to request a hard copy in the post. Helping you protect the things you care about

HEALTH INSURANCE Q&AS WITH SIMON CARE QUARTERLY ISSUE 18 Quick fire questions! Would you be covered if you went travelling to a random place like the Galapagos and e.g. cut your foot on coral and had to have an operation there to sort it out?

4 HEALTH INSURANCE Q&AS WITH SIMON CARE QUARTERLY ISSUE 18 Quick fire questions! Would you be covered if you went travelling to a random place like the Galapagos and e.g. cut your foot on coral and had to have an operation there to sort it out? Yes. Africa & India plans would cover under emergency out-of-area. Worldwide (excluding the USA) plans would cover this as standard. HEALTH F CUS DIABETES What happens when you do something that you know is silly like running with the bulls in Pamplona and you get injured? Certain insurers may possibly exclude under hazardous / extreme sports, but generally this would be covered. Africa Wellness Solutions has no exclusion for extreme sports, whilst Aetna specifies certain activities, such as off-piste skiing, potholing, caving but not running away from bulls! If you develop a long term illness after you ve bought health insurance are you still covered? Certain insurers have exclusions relating to chronic conditions so you d need to ensure you buy a plan that covered routine management of chronic conditions. Is evacuation included in all international plans or do you have to specify that you want it? Typically covered as standard - Bupa Lifeline, Company or WWHO are the exception. JARGON BUSTER Area of cover: the countries where you can have treatment (NB travel costs are not covered). Deductible or excess: choose to pay a specified amount of the claim value; the bigger the deductible the lower the premium. In patient treatment: treatment requiring an admission to hospital. Out patient treatment: treatment not requiring an admission to hospital + visits to a doctor, consultations with a specialist, tests to find out what is wrong, as well as prescribed drugs and medicines. Pre-existing conditions: medical conditions you have, or have had, before buying a health plan. Provider network: insurance companies have networks of medical providers (hospitals, clinics, doctors etc.) Typically: If you use a network provider the cost of treatment will be settled directly by the insurer If you don t use a network provider you have to pay for treatment and submit a claim for reimbursement. HEALTH TIP FOR WOMEN Women need a mix of cardio and resistance or weight-bearing exercise at least three to five times a week to help prevent osteoporosis, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. Exercise also promotes good self-image, which is really important to a woman s mental health. The number of people living with diabetes has more than doubled over the past 20 years. According to many experts, it s the fastest growing health threat of our time and an urgent public health issue that needs addressing. What is diabetes? Diabetes occurs if your blood sugar gets too high. There are two main types: Type 1, in which the pancreas gland produces no insulin at all; and Type 2, in which the pancreas either doesn t produce enough insulin, or where the body s cells have become resistant to it. Type 2 diabetes is closely, but not exclusively, linked with obesity, although it s important to note that genes and ethnic origins also have a significant impact. The best 5 ways to take control What are the symptoms? Typical symptoms include abnormal thirst, passing urine more frequently, tiredness, blurring of vision, weight loss and frequent infections. The main reason for this is down to the lack of insulin, which means the glucose cannot be used as fuel for energy and therefore accumulates in the bloodstream. If the condition is not managed, the long term complications of diabetes can lead to cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, blindness and damage to the peripheral nerves. The good news for anyone with Type 2 diabetes is that making some simple lifestyle changes can help to improve blood glucose control, prevent complications and in some cases, reduce the need for medication Eat a balanced diet Shed those excess pounds Get exercising Keep in touch with your Doctor Avoid the dips in your blood glucose levels To feedback on this edition of CQ - visit

JW SEAGON & COMPANY INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE BROKERS KAREN CALLING! A reminder to all our clients that our Karen office is open for business Monday to Friday 8.30am 4.30pm.

Thank you to everyone who attended our client lunch in Nanyuki on 4th May. It was great to see so many familiar faces at Le Rustique.

More client lunches will be planned throughout 2017 watch this space. We were delighted to sponsor and participate in the Gilgil Sports Weekend on 29th April 2017.

We hope everyone enjoyed the weekend as much as we did and look forward to seeing you all there again next year! DID YOU KNOW?

Both supplements can reduce the need for painkillers and are effective in managing arthritis. IS A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION BY THE JWS GROUP - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

5 JW SEAGON & COMPANY INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE BROKERS KAREN CALLING! A reminder to all our clients that our Karen office is open for business Monday to Friday 8.30am 4.30pm. Based at Blixen Court, our team is on hand to advise and discuss any of your insurance needs. Who says there is no such thing as a free lunch? Thank you to everyone who attended our client lunch in Nanyuki on 4th May. It was great to see so many familiar faces at Le Rustique. We hope you enjoyed the food and drink, and thanks for your time while we presented our one stop shop of insurance solutions. More client lunches will be planned throughout 2017 watch this space. We were delighted to sponsor and participate in the Gilgil Sports Weekend on 29th April Our JWS team brought their A-game and competitive spirit to the event and lots of fun was had by all. We hope everyone enjoyed the weekend as much as we did and look forward to seeing you all there again next year! DID YOU KNOW? Turmeric and fish oils are world renowned for their anti-inflammatory properties. Both supplements can reduce the need for painkillers and are effective in managing arthritis. IS A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION BY THE JWS GROUP - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. SUITE 1103, 11TH FLOOR, THE CORE, NO. 62, ICT AVENUE, CYBERCITY, EBENE, REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS MAURITIUS@JWSEAGON.COM JWSEAGON IS AN INSURANCE BROKER OFFERING LIFE, HEALTH, TRAVEL, WEALTH, GENERAL AND SPECIAL RISKS INSURANCE. WE PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE PROTECTION FOR INDIVIDUALS, SMALL & LARGE CORPORATE GROUPS, THEIR DEPENDANTS, AND EXPATRIATES OF ALL NATIONALITIES LIVING & WORKING IN AFRICA. VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION twitter.com/jwseagon facebook.com/jwseagon

NAVIGATING THE INSURANCE MARKET

JANUARY TO MARCH 2018 CARE QUARTERLY 22 NO. A PUBLICATION OF THE JW SEAGON GROUP INSURANCE BROKING EDITION NAVIGATING THE INSURANCE MARKET Let the policyholder beware! Win an Amazon Echo Dot JW Seagon