Glossary
Direct billing (prise en charge directe)
A mechanism by which the insurer pays the care facility in its network directly, without the policyholder having to pay upfront, unlike a reimbursement claimed after the fact.
With direct billing, the insurer pays the partner clinic or hospital without the policyholder having to advance the funds, which is especially useful for hospitalisation, where costs abroad can be very high. This mechanism contrasts with standard reimbursement, where the policyholder pays first and is then reimbursed against receipts.
Direct billing only works at facilities within the insurer’s partner network: its scope varies significantly from one insurer to another and is worth checking for the specific destination country. Outside the network, the policyholder must pay upfront and go through a standard reimbursement claim instead.
Example
During a hospital stay at a facility within the insurer's partner network, the insurer can pay the clinic directly, sparing the policyholder from having to advance sums that can be very high before reimbursement.
Also searched as: international cashless treatment · direct payment to the provider
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