Mounting pressure to keep runaway hospitalisation costs under control, combined with improved technology and facilities, has resulted in a rapid increase in the frequency of outpatient surgeries and procedures being conducted.

While this has resulted in reducing the amount of hospital-base recuperation stays, it has also caught numerous people short whose company or private medical insurance has not covered outpatient procedures.

"Outpatient diagnostic procedures and surgeries are now being performed in three types of facilities -- doctors' offices, outpatient departments in hospitals, and freestanding ambulatory care centres," notes Mr. Joseph Griffin, Chairman and CEO of Hong Kong based GlobalHealth International Group. "Such procedures and surgeries do not require an overnight hospital stay and patients return home after time spent in a recovery room in these outpatient facilities."

When a medical service or treatment requires you to stay in the hospital for more than 24 hours, it is usually covered by medical insurance as an inpatient or hospitalization benefit. Any visit that is less than 24 hours, even at a hospital emergency services or outpatient area, are generally considered as an outpatient benefit.

Unfortunately, many standard personal health insurance policies offered over the years do not cover outpatient treatments and services. Today, however, you will find an abundance of private medical insurance policies that either automatically include outpatient benefits or give you the option of having these included.

For instance, the Pallas GlobalHealth comprehensive global medical insurance plan from GlobalHealth Asia provides full outpatient coverage, above your self-selected deductible amount, for all major medical costs incurred anywhere in the world. The Pallas GlobalHealth plan also provides for free medical second opinions from leading medical centres around the world."

Benefits of outpatient coverage

Outpatient benefits can include a wide range of medical services including consultations, diagnostic procedures and test, treatments, surgeries, and rehabilitation. Depending on the policy and cover you select, outpatient benefits may or may not cover chronic conditions, prenatal and postnatal services, or mental health conditions such as autism or sleep disorders. It is well worth your time to research the options available to you and to select cover most suited to your lifestyle, genetic and family medical history, and financial situation.

Typical benefits of outpatient coverage include:

• Routine health checks

• Doctor and specialist fees

• Prescription medicines

• Alternative treatments such as chiropractor and Osteopath

• Diagnostic tests, including blood work, ECG, scans and x-rays

• Home Nursing

• Vaccinations

Some innovative private health insurance plans, such as those offered by GlobalHealth Asia, also provide options for inclusion of traditional Chinese medicines, acupuncture, and other forms of treatment.

Rehabilitation therapy, including occupational, speech, and physical therapy sessions, are an important component of a comprehensive outpatient private health insurance plan. This is particularly important when one realizes that most rehabilitation processes require months and months of on-going treatments. Such on-going care can be financially draining if not covered under a private medical insurance plan.

As GlobalHealth International's Mr. Griffin points out, "there is a noticeable trend for the increased use of outpatient facilities and services, particularly since many advanced medical techniques today reduce recovery times and negate the need for postoperative hospital stays."

With this in mind, having a personal health insurance plan that includes outpatient cover is now more important than ever, for both you and all your family members.