What is Home Nursing Services and What Does it Cover?

The above plans and premiums are for AED 1,000,000 Sum insured for 1 Adult of 30 Years for Dubai city.

Home healthcare constitutes a service extended by hospitals, clinics, and medical centres, enabling patients to avail of health services from the ease of their homes. These services cater to the elderly, individuals recuperating from accidents or illnesses, those with exceptional determination, as well as mothers and babies.

In this write-up, we will talk more about home health care services, otherwise known as home nursing services.

Types of Home Nursing Services

Discussed below are the types of home nursing services provided by major health insurance companies -

Domiciliary Treatment - This refers to treatments that require hospitalisation but are conducted at the patient's home. Insurance providers usually offer coverage for domiciliary treatment if the patient's health condition prevents them from being able to go to the hospital or if there is a lack of available rooms in the hospital to accommodate the patient.
Pre and Post-Hospitalisation Coverage - Typically, insurance providers cover medical expenses both before and after hospitalisation. However, the incurred expenses must be related to the illness that led to the hospitalisation. It is essential to understand that the duration of pre and post-hospitalisation coverage can differ among insurers. Some policies may include home care service expenses up to 90 days before hospitalisation and 180 days after hospitalisation, while others may only cover expenses for 30 days before and 60 days after hospitalisation.
Outpatient (OPD) and Day Care Treatments - Certain medical procedures do not necessitate hospitalisation but can still be relatively costly. Such procedures encompass chemotherapy, haemodialysis, physiotherapy (for improved post-accident or post-surgery recovery), radiotherapy, and others. Additionally, some insurance companies may include coverage for OPD or outpatient department home care services such as routine consultations and check-ups.

Here is a list of the treatments usually provided under home nursing services -

Physiotherapy
Laboratory Services
Palliative Care
Pharmaceutical Delivery
Stroke Recovery, Post-surgery Care, Wound Care, Senior Care, Post Discharge Care, and Disease Management

Illness Treated under Home Nursing Services

Listed below are the medical conditions usually treated under home nursing services -

Gastroenteritis
Hepatitis
Dengue
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) management
Fever Management
Respiratory Tract Infection
Bronchopneumonia
Pancreatitis

Benefits of Home Health Care Services

Here are the reasons why you should opt for home nursing cover under health insurance -

Speedier recovery - With home healthcare included in the insurance policy, the insured individual can easily access postoperative or post-hospitalisation treatment at home, free from concerns about medical expenses. This not only promotes a quicker recovery for the patient but also reduces the financial burden for them. Additionally, recovering in a peaceful and familiar environment may aid in faster healing.
Reduced financial burden - Certain post-operative treatments and medications, especially long-term ones, can be quite costly. Lacking home health care coverage can lead to significant financial strain in such cases.
Avoiding room rent expenses - By having home health care coverage, certain treatments can be administered at home, thereby saving on the expenses associated with hospital room rents.
No additional premium - Several insurance companies include home healthcare services in their policies without requiring any extra premium. In such cases, you can easily obtain the policy at affordable rates and without any hassles.

Is Home Health Care Covered Under Health Insurance?

UAE nationals can take advantage of various programs that provide affordable or even free support and home healthcare services.

UAE residents should be aware that the essential benefits plan typically does not include coverage for home healthcare. However, several comprehensive plans do offer provisions for such services.

It is important to inquire about home healthcare coverage while obtaining health insurance. Make sure to engage in a conversation with your service provider to determine whether they cover home healthcare. You should also ensure that your preferred medical service provider is empanelled with your chosen insurance provider.

Things to Consider Before Opting for Home Nursing Cover under Health Insurance

Before choosing a health insurance plan with homecare, it is essential to give careful thought to various factors.

Here are 5 major aspects to look into -

Consulting with your insurer is advisable before opting for home care services.
Verify whether the treatment that you require is covered by your insurance policy.
Stay informed about any specific conditions that might be excluded from your policy coverage.
Take your existing health conditions into account when making your decision.
When opting for home care, make sure that you would be able to access quality professionals, facilities, and equipment for your requirements.