Choosing your Health Insurance correctly. The following is an article produced by the CEO of the most prestigeous medical insurer in Malaysia. This article is featured in one of the past issues of The Reader's Digest... "Health Insurance is vital in our fast moving world. It gives you financial benefits and peace of mind if you are hit by sickness or injury. Rising healthcare costs have increased the need for health insurance. Hospitalisation and surgical insurance covers the cost of hospital treatment and surgery. This includes cover for all your hospital expenses such as room and board, supplies and services, pre-hospitalisation consultation and diagnosis, specialist's fees, post-hospitalisation follow-ups, ambulance fees and a limited amount of cover for outpatient treatment of accidental injuries. Generally, hospitalisation and surgical policies come in two forms. A basic policy has an inner limit-a maximum amount reimbursable for benefits on each disability. A comprehensive policy has no inner limits. The insurer reimburses the expenses as charged by the medical providers. A comprehensive policy usually has an overall annual limit for the maximum amount of claims the insurer will pay in the policy year. Before buying a hospitalisation and surgical insurance policy, examine your needs and the affordability of the premiums required to cover those needs. Premiums increase with the room rate, the comprehensiveness of the benefits, the limit of cover, the age, and often the gender of the insured person. To be sure that your health policy gives you peace of mind, choose a reputable insurer with vast experience in health insurance. Make sure the policy carries a guaranteed renewal. If you can afford to, take out comprehensive health insurance. And choose a plan that covers slightly more than the current cost of medical services to counter rising medical inflation. Be honest with the insurance company and declare all pre-existing illnesses or disabilities and any other relevant medical information. This information will affect your level of premium and the terms of the policy. If you do not disclose this information, the insurer may not pay your claims. Our Company is one of the few companies selling guaranteed renewable comprehensive health insurance in Malaysia. We are a leader in health insurance with more than thirty years' experience in Malaysia. In 2003, our Company ranked third in terms of sales among all general insurance companies. Besides comprehensive health insurance, our Company offers a range of other types of health and general insurance."