UNSMIS relies on you, our insured members, to be diligent and attentive to avoid unnecessary costs and expenses. Keeping an attentive eye on costs and avoiding providers that charge excessive fees is your duty as an insured member. To prevent excessive billing and protect the plan’s solvency, UNSMIS limits reimbursement to usual, reasonable, and customary (URC) charges in the region where care is received. For planned treatments, if in doubt, an advance quote may be submitted to the Medical Advisor to make sure that the price complies with our URC policy.

Responsible use of the plan and attention towards your medical costs help maintain stable monthly premiums and ensures the long-term financial health of the insurance scheme. This means that generations to come will be able to enjoy the same coverage with similar benefits at a similar cost. It is important to safeguard the long-term financial solvency of the plan without this being at the expense of the benefits provided. This is not possible without, amongst other things, a diligent and thoughtful use of the insurance plan by insured members. Insured members are our first line of defence, and they can always reach out to us with questions regarding the pricing of medical services or treatments.

We would like to emphasize that being cost-conscious does not mean compromising on quality care. It means avoiding unnecessary or overpriced treatments and staying alert to overprescribing practices. To help insured members navigate a sometimes complex landscape, UNSMIS has invested significant time and effort to set up conventions and direct pay agreements with medical providers. Please visit our dedicated page—'Healthcare Providers'—for more information on agreements with providers.