What is the Difference Between Accommodation, Ward and Apartment

What is the Difference Between Accommodation, Ward and Apartment?

Before purchasing a health plan, many questions arise, and one of them is which type of accommodation to choose. But to do this, it's important to consider the pros and cons of each type.

This way, you can choose the option that best fits your needs. profile And, of course, your wallet, too. To help you, we'll explain the main differences between a ward and an apartment, so you can make your choice with more confidence.

Differences between a ward and an apartment

The main differences between the accommodations are:

Privacy

While in the ward you share a room with two or three patients of the same sex, in the apartment, the space is exclusively for you. This gives you more freedom and privacy, which is a huge benefit, especially if you've had a more delicate procedure.

Comfort

In the past, many people feared the infirmary because they imagined crowded places with small beds. However, over the years, this has changed, and the infirmary offers a little more comfort.

What is the Difference Between Accommodation, Ward and Apartment?

This division of three beds per ward allowed for the provision of good medical practices and healthcare. After all, with fewer people, the chances of infection are reduced.

However, comfort during recovery and adaptation in the apartment is certainly greater, as the room is individual, allowing you to control the air conditioning temperature and choose your preferred TV channel. Additionally, some hospitals also provide patients with a larger TV, Wi-Fi, a minibar, and a bed for a companion.

Bathrooms

Regardless of the accommodation you choose, there is only one bathroom per room. This means that if you're in a shared room, you'll have to share it with other patients and companions. However, in the apartment, the bathroom is for the individual and exclusive use of the patient.

Escorts

Another difference between the accommodations is that in the ward, companions can only be of the same sex and, in general, only for patients under 18, over 60 or women who have given birth.

In the apartment, the companion can be of either sex and is independent of the patient's age.

Visiting hours

All visiting hours are regulated by the hospital and are fixed and restricted. This prevents overcrowding and excessive noise, reduces the risk of hospital-acquired infections, and provides greater privacy and comfort for patients, both in the ward and in their rooms.

The difference here is that in the ward only one companion is allowed at a time, while in the apartment the number of visitors and visiting hours are more flexible.

Values

Shared accommodation plans are more affordable than individual accommodation plans. However, in some cases, the difference isn't that great—sometimes as little as R$1,000,000 per month—so it's necessary to evaluate the best value for money.

Which accommodation should I choose?

To decide which accommodation to choose, you need to take into account:

• Budget available for the health plan
• Need to hire differentiated accommodation
• Quality of accommodations in hospitals in your area

As we said, the ward has a lower cost, but the benefits of the apartment must also be taken into consideration.

Also, you need to think long-term. Are you planning to have children? What about when you reach old age? Or maybe you have chronic health problems.

In these cases, an apartment is an excellent choice as it offers more privacy, comfort, a private bathroom, and greater flexibility for visitors.

What does the legislation provide for companions of hospitalized patients?

According to the National Supplementary Health Agency, if the contract is new or adapted, the operator is obliged to cover the expenses of a companion, including food and accommodation, in the case of patients under 18 years of age, elderly people over 60 years of age and people with disabilities.

However, if the contract is old (signed before Law No. 9,656/98 and not adapted) it will depend on what is provided for in it.

In the case of patients aged between 18 and 60, the expenses of the companion, such as daily meals, are entirely the responsibility of the beneficiary and the health plan operator does not need to cover the costs.

How is billing done in case of hospitalization?

If the patient has a plan with co-payment, they will pay a fixed amount, regardless of the number of days or months they are hospitalized. Those with a plan without co-payment have no cost and are not dependent on the number of days hospitalized, as the cost of hospitalization is included in the monthly fee.

Furthermore, during hospitalization, the provider must cover all costs related to procedures performed, such as consultations and exams. This means they cannot charge any additional fees, as they are already included in the hospitalization price. 

Is it possible to move from a ward to an apartment?

Maybe you chose the ward, but want to move to the apartment because you got a raise, the bills are easier, or because you thought about it and realized it was the best option.

Please note that this is possible by paying an additional fee, changing the amount of all subsequent monthly payments. However, you may need to go through a new grace period. Therefore, before making any changes, check the terms and conditions with your carrier.

What is the Difference Between Accommodation, Ward and Apartment?

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