Appointments at Adria Medical Center use pay-and-claim: you pay the clinic and apply to your insurer for reimbursement. The clinic does not offer direct billing. Before booking, check your own policy, any referral or approval requirements, and the documents needed. Reimbursement is not guaranteed.
Understand what pay-and-claim means for you
An appointment and an insurance claim are separate steps. Your appointment is with the clinic; your claim is assessed by your insurer under your policy. Paying for a visit does not establish that the insurer will reimburse it, even if physiotherapy appears among your benefits.
Plan on being able to cover the appointment yourself. Review the current Fees information before choosing a visit, and ask the team about any unclear charge. Knowing the cost in advance lets you decide whether to proceed while an insurance question remains unresolved.
Ask about this appointment, not just physiotherapy generally
Give your insurer the clinic name and address: Adria Medical Center, Villa 783, Umm Suqeim 2, Dubai. Explain that you are considering a physiotherapy consultation using pay-and-claim. Ask for an answer linked to your current policy rather than a general description of the insurer's products.
- Does my policy allow reimbursement for physiotherapy at this clinic?
- Do I need a referral, prior approval, or a particular type of clinical information before the first appointment?
- Are there visit limits, financial limits, an excess, or a percentage I must pay myself?
- What must I submit, through which channel, and within what deadline?
Resolve referral and approval questions before attending
If your insurer requires a referral or prior approval, ask exactly what must happen before the visit. Do not assume that paperwork obtained afterwards will meet the requirement. Check whether an approval covers an assessment only, a specified number of visits, or a particular period.
For example, an insurer might confirm a benefit but still ask for a referral before assessing a claim. In that situation, clarify the missing step before booking, or make an informed decision to pay without relying on reimbursement. This is a planning example, not a statement about your policy.
Check which documents the clinic can provide
Send the team your insurer's document checklist before the appointment if possible. Ask whether the requested invoice details, payment evidence, claim form, or clinical documentation can be supplied, and whether anything needs extra time. An insurer's request does not automatically mean the clinic can provide every item in the exact format requested.
Keep your receipts, relevant correspondence and claim reference together. If a claim needs clarification, ask the insurer what is missing before requesting further material from the clinic.
Separate the consultation fee from optional additions
A consultation fee does not include every optional item that might be discussed. If ANF discs are proposed and you agree to them, they cost an additional AED 27 per disc. The quantity and total must be explained before you agree. The clinic advises you not to rely on insurance reimbursement for these discs.
You can ask for the consultation charge and any proposed extras to be explained separately. Questions about an additional option belong in the care discussion as well as the financial discussion; agreeing to an appointment does not mean agreeing to every subsequent proposal.
Your before-booking checklist
Use this short checklist to turn a vague reassurance into a practical plan. Keep written confirmation from your insurer where available, including any conditions attached to the answer.
- I understand the appointment fee and can pay the clinic directly.
- I have checked my policy's referral, approval and claim requirements.
- I have asked the clinic about any required documents.
- I know which costs may remain mine, including optional items.
- I have saved the insurer's response and know the next step if the claim is queried.
Common questions
Can the clinic guarantee that my insurer will reimburse me?
No. Your insurer decides the claim under your policy. My team can discuss clinic charges and available documentation, but those details do not amount to an insurance approval.
Do I need to check again before follow-up appointments?
Check whether your existing confirmation covers the planned follow-ups, including any remaining visit allowance or approval period. Ask again if the plan, policy or approval changes; do not assume the first claim settles every later one.
Can I book while waiting for an insurance answer?
You can discuss booking with my team, but decide on the basis that you may have to meet the full cost yourself. If reimbursement is essential to your decision, resolve the insurance questions first.
Further reading
- NICE NG197 — shared decision making: general principles for discussing choices
- NHS — consent to treatment: general information about informed, voluntary decisions
General information to support a conversation about your care. Your assessment and circumstances guide individual decisions.