H1N1 flu under normal insurance cover

Insurance companies in the UAE are treating H1N1 flu (swine flu) as any other viral fever and there is no need for companies and individuals to panic about the potential treatment costs for those infected, according to insurance executives.

Speaking to Emirates Business, an official from Daman Insurance said: "We are conducting awareness campaigns about the H1N1 flu virus. At present H1N1 flu is covered under insurance as a regular flu and whatever treatment cost is incurred will be paid through the insurance claim. So far the UAE Government has not declared it an epidemic. Therefore, insurance companies have to treat the disease like a regular flu."

He said some insurance policies do not cover critical illnesses such as Aids and cancer, but H1N1 flu is not classified as a critical illness.

Dr Mark McGourty, CEO, Medsol Medical Solutions, said: "There is an overkill in the media about H1N1 flu.

"A healthy person in the active age group will rarely die of H1N1 flu; it severely affects mainly children and old people."

Other doctors also said the media had created panic about the H1N1 virus.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has not issued any directions that healthy people should wear facemasks and there were groups opposing compulsory vaccination to prevent H1N1 flu which improves the bottom line of multinational pharmaceutical companies.

Swine flu treatment is also covered by the travel insurance sector, an area that grew 300 per cent in the United States after the recent H1N1 virus outbreak.

An official from a leading airline in the UAE said: "Swine flu is covered under travel insurance, which provides $30 (Dh110) or less for three to seven days. Annual travel insurance schemes are provided by companies such as American Life Insurance Company for premiums of Dh20 per month."

He said, globally, sales of medical insurance had gone up sharply because the expenses, even for treating normal flu, was very high in the US and Europe. However, prolonged illness would not be treated under such insurance policies, as there was a limit to the total claim.

Airlines can turn away passengers infected with H1N1 virus and the travel insurer would have to cover the cost of ticket cancellations.

The majority of travel insurance policies contain a medical section to pay for treatment, but do not entitle the patient to come home for treatment. And some limits may be too low for a long spell in hospital.

Experts say the medical section of most travel insurance policies normally cover the cost of cancelling a trip due to H1N1 flu and the patient should get a letter from the doctor and inform the insurer before cancelling the ticket. Meanwhile, both in the country and worldwide, the travel sector is taking its own precautions and preventive measures against the spread of the H1N1 virus. Modern aircraft already have very advanced air filtration systems, which ensure a high level of air quality despite the confined environment. Aircraft are also disinfected at regular intervals, and there is special guidance for cabin crew on how to handle passengers who might fall ill during a flight.

The airports in the UAE have installed special scanning machines to monitor infected people entering the country. The UAE Ministry of Health has in place an action plan to control the spread of the H1N1 virus and has formed a special committee to combat the disease.

A National Emergency Blueprint has been put in place and about 72 patients admitted to various hospitals for H1N1 flu have been discharged after treatment. Hospitals are also distributing H1N1 flu masks for their staff and visitors.

Pharmacies and medical equipment distributors, however, have not seen a great surge in demand for facemasks as a protection against H1N1 flu.

Faisal Rahman, Sales Executive, disposable division of City Pharmacy, said: "Many hospitals are distributing complimentary facemasks for patients and visitors. Some people try to cover their nose and mouth with headscarves or handkerchief, which will not prevent the virus. Cloth is not a virus filter. The normal face mask is available over the counter for Dh10 for a packet of 50 masks and the duration of use depends on how the mask is used."

He said a better and expensive facemask is on its way to the market, just in case demand increased, and the company is waiting for permission from its European manufacturer to market it in the UAE.

"The mask made in the UAE is quite cheap but its demand is not huge. Some expatriates going home are buying them over the counter as a precaution before they leave the UAE," he said.

 

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