About this article:
- Read about Carole’s traumatic leg and wrist fracture.
- Learn how health insurance gave Carole options and a peace of mind.
- Understand the importance of knowing your coverage.
Table of Contents
It was a sunny afternoon when Carole decided to take a leisurely stroll through the colourful, Peranakan-inspired shophouses of Joo Chiat. She wasn’t in a rush, just enjoying the charming streets and searching for a place to have lunch with her friend.
In that moment of distraction, her foot missed a small step down. It didn’t seem like much, it was just a tiny misstep, but as she landed awkwardly, something felt off.
“At first, I didn’t feel any pain,” Carole recalls. “Then I looked down… and saw my leg bone sticking out.”
From calm to chaos
Bystanders rushed to her aid, some comforted her while others called for an ambulance. The initial shock of the fall and subsequent injury kept the pain at bay, but as the adrenaline faded, the pain hit her, hard. It was excruciating but all Carole could do was endure it till help arrived.
I knew I wanted to go to a private hospital.
“That decision was important to me because I wanted quick treatment and the option to choose my doctor.”
After what felt like an eternity (even though it was only a few minutes), a private ambulance arrived and took her to Parkway East Hospital. A team of nurses and Orthopaedic specialists had been alerted and were already on standby when Carole arrived. It was confirmed. Her injury was severe and would require emergency surgery.
Dr Kannan Kaliyaperumal, Carole’s Orthopaedic surgeon, explained the procedure clearly, patiently answered every question she had, and calmed her already frazzled nerves.
“The whole surgery process was seamless,” she says. “Everything happened quickly, but I never felt rushed. I trusted the team completely, and that made all the difference.”
Thankfully, Carole’s procedure went smoothly without complications, and within days, she was on the road to recovery.
One fall… then another
As with most major Orthopaedic surgeries, Carole’s hospitalisation was followed by a recovery plan that included regular rehabilitation sessions. This included exercises to help strengthen her leg again and slowly allow her the confidence to move around more independently. The main goal of rehabilitation was to slowly regain strength and mobility in her injured leg.
But just one month later, while everyone in her family was asleep, Carole was reaching for a pillow that had fallen on the floor. She suddenly lost her balance and fell, this time landing hard on her wrist and fracturing it.
It was traumatising, Carole recalls. To have not one but two serious falls and fractures within the span of a month was crippling and discouraging. She thought the worse was behind her and was getting used to walking on her own again. But now with a fractured wrist, she would require even more caregiving from her ever-patient husband, Dr David Lim, a chiropractor.
She was again rushed to Parkway East Hospital where she was once again attended to by Dr Kannan and his team of nurses. “It felt like déjà vu,” she says with a wry smile. Another trip to the hospital. Another surgery. Another round of recovery.
When insurance works quietly in the background
From the moment she arrived at the hospital, the Business Office handled all her insurance paperwork.
The process was so smooth, it almost felt suspicious.
“It was so quiet, I started wondering if something had gone wrong. But in the end, all my claims were processed without any issues.”
Initially and understandably so, Carole was worried that her surgeries and rehabilitation would not be covered by her insurance. She wondered if they could even afford it. But thanks to her past experience, she ensured that she had a well-rounded Integrated Shield Plan plus an appropriate rider to suit her needs.
Thanks to her coverage, she didn’t have to make any upfront payments for her treatments. Every step, from admission to rehabilitation, was coordinated and cashless. Her claims went through smoothly, allowing her focus fully on her recovery, confidence, and strength.
Carole’s takeaways
Carole’s double-injury experience taught her lessons she won’t forget:
- Pay attention where you walk, even a small misstep can lead to major consequences.
- Don’t underestimate a fall, especially as we age. Get checked quickly, even if the pain isn’t immediate.
- Private hospital access matters as it gave her the choice, speed, and peace of mind she needed.
- Trust the process, sometimes insurance coordination works so smoothly you hardly notice it.
“I never thought a simple walk could turn into two surgeries in two months,” Carole reflects.
“But I’m grateful I had the right coverage. Without it, my recovery would have been a lot more stressful.”
Key Insurance Types
Integrated Shield Plan: An Integrated Shield Plan covers inpatient treatment and hospitalisation costs.
Personal Accident Plan: A Personal Accident Plan covers accident-related expenses, including outpatient treatment.
Critical Illness Plan: A Critical Illness Plan provides a lump sum payout upon critical illness diagnosis, which can be used to cover non-insurable expenses like off-list drugs.
Know Your Coverage, Before You Need It
HealthInsured SG aims to help you understand the details of your health insurance policy. Being well-informed empowers you to focus on recovery, free from the added stress of financial burdens.
