Abu Dhabi, September 12: When a child is showing symptoms of influenza-like illness (ILI) such as fever, cough and sore throat, the health authorities have given clear instructions to schools and parents to send them to the nearest healthcare facility.
This is exactly what Leonisa Dayang followed when her seven-year old son had the chills due to high temperature. She was advised by the physician at the New Medical Centre Specialty Hospital (NMC) that if her son’s fever didn’t come down within 24 hours, then he should be tested for swine flu.
But the swine flu swab test will cost her Dh250, as this is not covered by their medical insurance, Dayang was told. “My son suffers from tonsillitis since he was five and he has bouts of fever, cough and sore throat, but because of the present situation I was advised to have the test done but fortunately we didn’t have to as his fever came down the following day,” she said.
“I wouldn’t mind paying if I have to because my son is sick, but our insurance, Daman, should cover it since it’s like the regular flu anyway. With the economic situation now, not everyone has immediate money to dispense at emergencies,” Dayang remarked.
Dr Zandra Paruginog, whose son is a friend of Dayang’s son, echoed the same concern. “We have Abu Dhabi National Insurance Company (ADNIC), but I’m not sure if they cover the swab test for swine flu,” she said.
Dr Noora Shain, an insurance coordinator at NMC, admitted that the hospital charges Dh250 for the rapid test or swab test for swine flu as some insurance companies do not cover it.
“Depending on the insurance and the policy, the patient may or may not pay the cost. Some insurance cover the cost but only after confirmation of the diagnosis,” she said adding that Daman does not cover this test.
Khaleej Times contacted Daman, but officials refused to comment. However, the customer service at Daman confirmed that the agency does not cover “swine flu screening as this falls under the general exclusion for pandemic.”
“The government is giving this test for free,” said the employee adding that hospitals such as the Shaikh Khalifa Medical Centre (SKMC) are offering swine flu test free of charge.
Shain said the treatment (in-patient) for swine flu is also not generally covered as patients are usually referred to the government hospital, such as SKMC in Abu Dhabi.
Al Noor Hospital does not conduct test for swine flu, according to Dr Viola Fouad, a clinical pathologist at the hospital. Dr Joseph Hannah, assistant manager in the insurance section of Al Noor, said that so far the only memorandum they received in this regard is from the NAS Insurance Services.
He said the memo asked them to inform NAS of a suspected case and they will check with their insurance network if the patient is covered or not.
“But if this becomes epidemic, then no insurance will be paying it. It will be paid for by HAAD or the government,” Hannah stated.
Khaleej Times called some of the major insurance companies in the UAE to gauge their swine flu coverage.
Dr Hazza Meslet, claims assistant at ADNIC, said the company will cover the cost as long as they show swine flu symptoms and the patient has been diagnosed by the doctor. “But not if it’s only for check-up,” he said.
Green Crescent Insurance, a member of NAS Insurance Services, has also confirmed that the initial test for H1N1 is covered for all its members, “as long as the World Health Organisation has not declared this as a pandemic,” said the customer service. “The patient is (also) covered for treatment by Tamiflu and Relenza upon confirmation of the diagnosis, as long as it is within the network.”
–Agencies