01 Apr 2025

There’s a famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi: "It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver." The quote is certainly impactful because it reminds us of the importance of our health above almost all other things in life especially money and material possessions.

The quote is also immediately relevant for people choosing health insurance, as prompts them to think long and hard about what type of health insurance coverage they need.

They also need to consider that making mistakes about health insurance can be the cause of unnecessary stress and problems. Here we walk you through some of the common pitfalls in selecting health insurance.

One obvious one is underestimating the coverage needs. This may arise when a person opts for the cheapest plan without considering full healthcare coverage where prescriptions, specialist visits, or ongoing conditions may be needed. This lack of oversight could lead to high unexpected costs.

In parallel, neglecting supplemental coverage like dental, vision, or accident insurance might leave you with gaps, especially if you have specific needs.

While it seems like an obvious one, many people fall into the trap of not reading the small print – meaning it’s vitally important to fully review the terms and conditions of your health insurance coverage as failure to do so might result in denied claims or surprise bills.

Another mistake is not comparing multiple plans. Just like you would for other products, it’s wise to shop around as you may miss better deals or updated options. To add to this, it can also be wrong to assume that employer plans are always the best – it’s worth comparing your plan to the marketplace especially when dependents are involved.

One final one: Ignoring the Network is not advisable! You should be aware that not all plans cover your preferred doctors or hospitals, so the onus is on you to check the provider network to prevent you from paying out-of-network prices or not being able to see your preferred doctors.

At ADNIC we seek to guide consumers on choosing the best health insurance to meet their needs so they can feel at ease.

If you’d like to know more about our health insurance options, please visit www.adnic.ae