Introduction
Preventive healthcare is the basic level of medical services, aiming to mitigate health complications at an early stage. The range of these measures covered by health insurance varies widely across countries, depending on national guidelines. In most countries, including Saudi Arabia, medical check-ups, screening tests, and health promotion education are accessible through insurance plans, employment benefits, and public programs (Al-Hanawi et al., 2020). Among the measures, the most critical are cancer, blood pressure, and diabetes check-ups, given the high prevalence of these diseases (Al-Hanawi et al., 2020).
Covered Preventive Care
The exact classification of covered preventative approaches also depends on the nature of the services provided – public or private. In Saudi Arabia, there is presently a trend toward private insurance, but relevant professionals note that there are still gaps in the policy regarding prevention-based strategies (Hazazi et al., 2022). Nevertheless, employees must understand the insurance coverage provided by employers and seek preventive services to achieve better health outcomes and mitigate various diseases and complications.
As with preventive measures, the frequency of allowed care depends on the chosen screening test and insurance plan. In general, it is recommended that patients undergo comprehensive medical check-ups every two years to identify life-threatening diseases and mitigate non-communicable disorders, such as diabetes (Public Health Authority, 2023).
Most insurance plans, including private-sector employment benefits programs, allow this frequency (Al-Hanawi et al., 2020). In cases with an elevated risk of medical complications, it is appropriate to undergo screenings more frequently, such as annually or every six months (Public Health Authority, 2023). Ultimately, employees are encouraged to follow regular preventive healthcare measures to protect their health and identify potential issues early, which employers and appropriate insurance should further incentivize.
Utilization
Health insurance coverage can significantly facilitate preventive care and incentivize employees to take care of their health. After all, healthcare accessibility is globally recognized as the leading factor in improving health outcomes among the general public (Young et al., 2021). The research confirms these findings, showing that people are more likely to undergo screenings if the said measures are covered by health insurance (see Table 1). In other words, health-seeking behaviors can change significantly when people have access to preventive services, a core goal of global healthcare.
Table 1 – Likelihood of screening tests based on healthcare insurance (Al-Hanawi et al., 2020)
The impact of preventative care on all levels of public health cannot be overestimated. Identifying acute diseases early and promoting health education can significantly improve individuals’ quality of life, thereby benefiting organizations and nations (Hazazi et al., 2022). For example, regular screenings are essential to identify various types of cancer, while health promotion can incentivize people to lose weight. These two preventive strategies are inherently connected, as nearly 4-8% of all cancer instances are related to obesity, meaning that proactive approaches can mitigate multiple causes of life-threatening diseases at the same time (Pati et al., 2023).
Conclusion
In summary, many types of identifiable disorders can significantly reduce one’s quality of life and productivity, which is detrimental to businesses and nations. For this reason, multiple non-communicable disorders with severe outcomes are labeled as public health issues (Hazazi et al., 2022). Hence, employers should incentivize employees to undergo comprehensive preventative measures through adequate health insurance plans.
References
Al-Hanawi, M. K., Mwale, M. L., & Kamninga, T. M. (2020). The effects of health insurance on health-seeking behaviour: Evidence from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, 595-607.
Hazazi, A., Wilson, A., & Larkin, S. (2022). Reform of the health insurance funding model to improve the care of noncommunicable diseases patients in Saudi Arabia. Healthcare, 10(11).
Pati, S., Irfan, W., Jameel, A., Ahmed, S., & Shahid, R. K. (2023). Obesity and cancer: A current overview of epidemiology, pathogenesis, outcomes, and management. Cancers, 15(2).
Public Health Authority. (2023). Saudi clinical preventive guideline (3rd ed.).
Young, Y., Alharthy, A., & Hosler, A. S. (2021). Transformation of Saudi Arabia’s health system and its impact on population health: What can the USA learn? Saudi Journal of Health Systems Research, 1(3), 93-102.
