Frequently asked questions...

What does health insurance include? It covers you for non-routine tests, treatment and surgery, as an inpatient, for acute conditions (serious but curable and generally short-term) that appear after your policy begins. Anything chronic, long-term or preexisting is usually excluded. It can also pay for hospital stays, nursing care, consultations, therapy and any medicines not available on the NHS. Do I need it? Everyone is different so you’ll need to consider if the monthly cost is affordable and worth it. For many people the NHS is sufficient. The main advantage of private healthcare is that you tend to have a broader choice of times and locations for any referred treatment.

Would I be covered by my employer? Some companies offer private healthcare as part of their salary packages, either for the individual employee or their family too. This can be a no-cost standard benefit or an option that you pay for – the cost of which is taken from your monthly wage.

What isn’t included? Many providers won’t allow you to claim for the first three months, unless it’s for a routine check-up. Cosmetic treatments aren’t covered, neither is anything not clinically necessary. Conditions related to a previous incident may not be. Some policies will also only pay out a percentage of costs, so bear this in mind before you sign on the dotted line.