Health insurance

Day Patient Cover

Day patient cover is for medical treatment where you need a bed but are discharged the same day, or you require an overnight stay in the hospital. Some people prefer to take out a ‘day patient cover only’ plan whereby they are eligible to receive a payout for the treatment itself, but not things like diagnostic tests or consultations.

Outpatient

This covers the cost of diagnostic tests and consultations where a hospital bed is not required. With private health insurance, you should be seen a lot quicker than you would on national health insurance.

Private GP Appointments

Many people now find it incredibly hard to get a GP appointment, which is why some private health insurers now offer face-to-face GP access within 24 hours. Video appointments are also becoming more common, so you don’t need to spare much time for a consultation.

Cancer Cover

Cancer cover gives you access to cutting-edge treatments that aren’t always available on the NHS. It’s advisable to combine this with outpatient cover to ensure you would receive a quick diagnosis when required. A number of private health insurance providers offer full cancer coverage as standard, but you can add this to your policy if yours doesn’t.

Health insurance isn’t intended to cover pre-existing conditions, though some providers will in particular circumstances. Normally this is because the insurer doesn’t believe the issue will return. However, the majority of policies will limit when claims on pre-existing conditions can be made.

It depends and varies for different insurers, but here are some examples of what is usually excluded by most health insurance policies

• Dangerous sports
• War Risk/Terrorism
• Criminal Acts
• Active use of weapons
• HIV/AIDS
• Fertility treatment
• Nuclear, biological or chemical reactions
• Suicide or attempted suicide
• Cosmetic surgery
• Organ transplants
• Treatment for alcoholism or substance abuse
• Reckless act or severe negligence
• Active involvement in fights

Insurers usually cover children on a family health insurance plan until 18. However, sometimes they will continue to cover them while they remain in full-time education.

Comprehensive health insurance is highly beneficial as you age when any medical issues could become more severe without prompt care. However, the best policy depends on the cover you’re looking for and what you can afford.

By giving you free expert advice along the way, you’ll have all the data you need to make an informed decision that best serves your requirements.