Inpatient and outpatient care, explained

Knowing the difference between inpatient and outpatient care is critical, particularly when it comes to understanding the level of care that you’re entitled to under your healthcare insurance plan. In this article, we explore the differences between the two, why they matter, and what you can do to ensure that your healthcare coverage effectively fulfills your needs for both.

What’s the difference between inpatient and outpatient care?

Inpatient care can be defined as any sort of medical treatment that requires an overnight stay in a hospital or medical facility. It can last days, weeks, or even months, depending on the patient's condition and the level of care required.

Inpatient care can cover a range of circumstances, but most require drugs and treatment to be administered by an on-site health professional. For example, a mother and baby are often required to remain in hospital for at least 24 hours following delivery for post-natal care. Likewise, a person who undergoes major surgery or suffers a life-threatening incident, such as a heart attack, will most likely be required to remain in hospital for a specified period of time, for monitoring.

In contrast, outpatient care refers to any type of treatment, consultation or assessment that does not require an overnight hospital stay. This includes minor surgery and treatment, and routine medical procedures. Patients are often given a structured recovery program, with drugs and treatment for self-administering, and may also be booked in for follow-up appointments to track progress with a medical professional.

Where possible, outpatient care is often the preferred option for both patients and medical professionals, as it minimizes the use of hospital resources and allows the patient to recuperate in the comfort of their own home.

Inpatient insurance in UAE

Since it is often the case that the most serious and urgent medical issues require inpatient treatment, most healthcare coverage plans are built with inpatient care squarely at the core. However, although industry standards set the benchmark for the most basic level of care available, the specific coverage and benefits are likely to vary based on the type of plan and the insurance provider. It’s essential to carefully review the terms and conditions of the insurance policy to understand the extent of coverage and any limitations or exclusions.

For example, GulfCare provides fully tailored healthcare plans to companies of all sizes within the UAE and throughout the GCC. We work directly with our partners to ensure that our health insurance solutions meet the specific needs of their businesses and their employees.

When you are enrolled in a corporate healthcare plan, be sure to check the plan’s terms and conditions to fully grasp the benefits included in your membership.

Outpatient insurance in Dubai

Outpatient services are often provided in addition to inpatient services. However, they are still an important consideration when it comes to healthcare.

Although the associated cost of outpatient services - such as GP visits - are often much less than those of inpatient services, it’s likely that you will use outpatient services much more frequently.

It’s estimated that UAE residents use outpatient services an average of 12 times per year. This puts the UAE third in the world in terms of outpatient service usage, behind only South Korea (15) and Japan (13). In contrast, recent figures show that UAE residents use inpatient services an average of 3.5 times per year. This means that having comprehensive coverage for both inpatient and outpatient services can be hugely beneficial.

Some healthcare providers incorporate enhanced outpatient services as part of their packages. For example, GulfCare’s corporate healthcare solutions include the provision of services such as tele-health, which provides employees with 24/7, multilingual access to specialized doctors and licensed medical professionals, from anywhere in the world.

GulfCare also covers a range of mental well-being outpatient services, such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), as well as tele-health mental well-being consultations.

Additionally, GulfCare can also provide preventative healthcare measures, such as fitness and nutrition plans.

Taking the time to understand what care you are entitled to under your healthcare plan can save you (literal) headaches further down the line. Access to both inpatient and outpatient insurance is more than just a legal obligation - in the long term, they save time and money, and help you to optimize your overall well-being.

To learn more about GulfCare’s range of services and bespoke healthcare insurance plans, get in touch today.