http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=...1586&sec=nation

ING was previously involved in some controversy over their medical card. Please check with your agent for newest update.

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Added on May 21, 2008, 6:07 pm- Please check back your policy documents and find out what's the exclusion.
- Problems usually arises due to 2 reasons.
a) Not informed properly by agents
b) Didn't read through the policy thoroughly

As an agent (I'm not from AIA), I can't tell you 1 - 100 things that is excluded & all the details, but they are all written in the policy.
Normally insurance company provides refund if you cancel the policy within certain period of in-forcement (w/o any claim that is).


This post has been edited by bbjslee: May 21 2008, 06:07 PM

Is that due to Max. Annual Claim amount?
For GE, there's an Max. Annual Claim and Max. Lifetime claim.

Though I'm not an AIA agent, I'm sorry that this incident has made you lost your trust on Insurance.
This is what I would do:
- Lodge a report with AIA about your agent
- Request to change the agent.

The other way, find out how much you can get if you surrender your policy. Sometimes short time suffering is better than long term suffering.
Get another medical card (standalone or rider) from another Insurance Company. And while you're apply for new Insurance Policy (medical card) DO NOT surrender your AIA policy 1st, because there is waiting period... etc. And furthermore there maybe exclusion and possibility being rejected due to your previous surgery.

If you don't mind, let us know what surgery was that, to you it could be a major surgery, but to other insurance company it could be a minor surgery which will not affect you from getting new insurance. Also, let us know roughly how old you are. Below 35? 35-40?... etc. There are a number of Insurance Agents here in the forum, with some basic info, we would be able to give you better advice and recommendation.

From what you've stated, AIA did not directly say cannot claim. The people you spoke to in AIA they are not sure if it is claimable or not. But there's a point I find it weird, which is "advise me not to file-in the claim" this is very weird indeed. Normally, under situation where they are unsure claimable or not, they'll ask you to pay first and "please" file in the claim later.

30 years old is consider young, you can still purchase a medical card at a relatively cheap premium. But due to your past surgery, there could be some complication. Insurance company might ask for your medical report, extra premium or exclusion clause attached. Go and see some insurance agent from GE/Pru/ING... etc. Get medical card from them, submit the proposal form. Then make a choice from there, while you're doing that do not surrender your AIA policy first.

Another thing is I see no reason why because due to "6 years" you cannot change agent. I'm not sure about other Insurance company's law, but in GE, you can change but with the consent of your current agent.

Some personal advice regarding Medical Card.
- Get at least 2 medical card if you can afford it. All the medical card has it's limit, some are in annual limit/treatment limit/lifetime limit. In most cases, one medical card's limit is not enough to last you a lifetime. Unless you're very lucky.
- Lots of insurance agent I know, have 2 or 3 medical cards. Some get from different insurance companies. Why? Silly22's example is a perfect reason. Put the eggs in different baskets. Surgery A can claim from Company G, but not from Company P, Surgery B can claim from Company P but not Company G... etc.

Silly22, this is what I would try to do:
1. Complain about your agent gao gao at AIA. Try to change to another agent
2. Shop for medical cards from other Insurance Company. But beware... cheap things are not necessary good.
3. Since you can't cancel AIA medical card, once you completed step 2, you would have 3 medical cards!
4. If you really hated AIA and does not want anything to do with the company, surrender your policy once the surrender value almost matches or more than the total premium you paid. For Traditional plan, it is usually somewhere between 15 - 20 yrs.
5. Now you would ask what to do with AIA medical card for another 10 yrs? My strategy is use your company's medical card 1st, once exhausted or not enough to cover, then use AIA, then only use your new Insurance Policy's medical card. Do take note that usually medical card has 120 days of waiting period.

This post has been edited by bbjslee: Jun 18 2008, 02:07 AM

Maybe they thought you're waxing your armpit hair

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Added on June 18, 2008, 6:17 pmIt is very important to get a good servicing agent, especially those who are willing to go an extra mile.

Some of the cases I heard of:
- Agent negotiate with hospital to amend the invoice (not the amount) but to lump sum some charges. So that can claim more.
- Agent go to hospital on Chinese New Year eve to visit client who had accident that day. And help with claims.
- Agent who pick up customer's call in 3 am and give advice on claims.


This post has been edited by bbjslee: Jun 18 2008, 06:17 PM

Good Work!!

Ask your Insurance Agent to help you. He/She should be the facilitator between you and the claim departments.
Just insured 8 months then have thyroid.... not easy to claim. It'll be lengthy process, be prepared.