What is direct billing and how does it work?
Direct billing is an arrangement where Expatriate Group pays a hospital or treating facility directly for eligible treatment, rather than you paying the bill yourself and claiming the cost back afterwards. It may remove the need to pay eligible treatment costs upfront where direct billing has been arranged.
How direct billing works
For direct billing to be arranged, treatment generally needs to be pre-approved in advance. This is done by contacting the 24-hour assistance line, who will:
- Liaise directly with your doctors and the hospital
- Confirm the treatment is covered under your policy
- Guarantee costs directly to the treating facility, where approved
This is why Expatriate Group recommends contacting the assistance line as soon as possible, and at least seven days before planned treatment, for hospitalisation or any treatment likely to exceed €1,000.
When direct billing is most valuable
Direct billing is particularly valuable for:
- Planned hospital admissions
- Surgical procedures
- Higher-cost treatment where paying upfront would be a significant financial burden
- Emergency situations, where the assistance team can arrange guarantees of payment on your behalf, even if you are not able to do so yourself
Direct billing vs paying and claiming back
Not all treatment is settled this way – for smaller or outpatient costs, you may still need to pay at the point of care and submit a claim afterwards through expatriate.claims to be reimbursed. Direct billing is generally reserved for higher-cost or inpatient treatment that has been pre-approved.
Why direct billing is useful for expats
Navigating an unfamiliar hospital system in a foreign country can be stressful enough without also having to manage a large upfront payment. Direct billing is designed to reduce that burden, allowing you to focus on receiving the right care while Expatriate Group manages the financial arrangement with the hospital directly.
