Insurance benefits for outpatient medical examination and treatment services in Vietnam

1. What is outpatient medical examination and treatment? 

Usually, the two terms outpatient medical examination and inpatient treatment are used quite commonly. Accordingly, these are two different forms of examination and treatment, usually prescribed by a doctor. 

Outpatient medical examination and treatment is a form of treatment in which the patient does not need to be hospitalized. Patients come to the medical facility and undergo examination, diagnosis and treatment during the day and can return home immediately afterward. 

Medical services often prescribed for outpatient medical examination and treatment patients include: Clinical examination, prescribing paraclinical methods (tests, diagnostic imaging, functional exploration), prescribing medication treatment, performing some basic procedures... 

2. Outpatient medical examination and treatment has the following characteristics:

• No hospitalization: Patients are examined and treated during the day and do not stay at a medical facility; 
• Suitable for mild pathologies: Outpatient medical examination and treatment is often indicated in cases where patients have mild pathologies such as: digestive disorders, common respiratory diseases (sore throat, Tonsillitis, flu…);
• Lower costs: Compared to inpatient treatment, outpatient medical examination and treatment costs are lower because the service assigned to perform diagnosis and treatment is often less;
• Quick procedure: Outpatient medical examination and treatment procedures are simple, without complicated requirements like inpatient treatment. 

3. Insurance benefits for outpatient medical examination and treatment services 

Whether performing outpatient medical examination and treatment is eligible for insurance benefits or not is a question of many people. 

The answer is yes. Outpatient medical examination and treatment is paid by insurance. Or in other words, outpatient medical treatment customers enjoy the benefit of a hospital fee guarantee. 

However, the insurance payment list also depends on the insurance package the customer previously registered to use. Normally, outpatient medical examination and treatment costs covered by insurance include: 

• Medical examination costs;
• Costs of performing paraclinical methods (tests, diagnostic imaging, functional exploration...);
• Medical treatment costs;
• Ancillary medical services such as physical therapy;
• Re-examination costs (if any).

Therefore, in the process of choosing an insurance package, people can consider choosing outpatient medical examination and treatment benefits that suit their needs and financial capacity.