COVID-19 testing and treatment cost burden in the MENA region
Source: Middle East Insurance Review | Jan 2021
The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a plethora of challenges worldwide. Travel restrictions have been put in place where most countries require travellers to present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result issued not more than 72 hours from arrival to the country of destination.
However, when it comes to the question of who’s paying for COVID-19 testing and treatment, approaches differ from country to country, said GlobeMed. As reported by global reports and a survey conducted by GlobeMed in the markets where it operates, most governments have decided to cover the costs associated with the diagnosis and treatment at public hospitals while the private insurers are covering the treatment and tests depending on the applicable laws and regulations in their countries.
GlobeMed said these are extremely challenging times for everyone including individuals, families, and businesses, “therefore, we are playing a key role in supporting our clients and their insured members by creating special COVID-19 units, staffed with specialists to answer insured member queries and guide them to follow the proper treatment”.
Furthermore, GlobeMed operations are offering insured members the necessary digital tools and applications to manage their health insurance needs safely through the crisis and during recovery, said the TPA. M