To help users better understand how their international health insurance, we are committed a series of exclusive interviews with doctors who agreed to answer us.

In this first interview, BSI wanted to know the opinion of a physician on the definition of a chronic or acute symptom. For the insurer, what difference does? How this changes the issue for the subscription and the lives of some contracts, including contracts expatriate health?

Dr. Christine DABRIGEON, a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine of Saint-Etienne (42, Loire, France) and today installed in Haute-Loire, has agreed to answer this question. BSI: Can you explain the difference, important for the insurer, between a symptom « chronic » and « acute » symptom? Dr. Dabrigeon: One can understand the fear of the insurer as a commercial company: « chronic » disease (where the pathology is to last in time) will generate for him management of recurrent expenditure in the long term. The insurer (in principle) gives a lifetime warranty: he will have to make provision for a « risk ». A subscription to a contract and to grant its guarantee, the insurer wants to validate the absence of knowledge of a chronic by the insured or the lack of treatment or follow-up for the consequences of an accident for example… The logic of the insurer is to avoid « opportunistic » subscriptions… BSI: Actually the role of insurance is to cover the hazard, and therefore an event « suddenly » as the East the « acute » symptom or the accident. Dr. Dabrigeon: Yes, absolutely. A chronic symptom known to the subscription or the consequences will be for the insurer subject to a specific analysis: How can the « pre-existing » medical underwriting evolve and what costs are predictable for the insurer? They are doctors with the insurer who analyze and decide. It is in the logic of private insurance does not guarantee a customer which we presume it will be source of loss, or guarantee but with conditions… BSI: What advice do you give to expatriate patients who consult you?

Dr. Dabrigeon: Beyond the advice of healthy lifestyle, prevention includes retirement and health insurance… The rules to ensure change when you live abroad. It is important to be well informed and especially not to wait until the illness or accident to think: it is often too late! Many expatriates, especially, do not subscribe to least, insurance « assistance / repatriation »!

BSI: Thank you very much doctor for this interview! In a next interview, we’ll talk about the role of the « Medical Questionnaire » in the underwriting of certain health contracts international or foresight.