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What is Private Health Insurance?

Private Health insurance (PHI) also known as private medical insurance (PMI) can cover the costs of private medical treatment for a diagnosed acute illness. It can provide an alternative to using the NHS, typically offering quicker treatment by avoiding NHS waiting times. People who are referred to a specialist by a GP can wait many weeks, at times up to 18 weeks for a specialist appointment.

The NHS faces a great deal of pressure to meet the healthcare demands of the nation and its resources are thinly stretched, healthcare insurance can help to relieve some of this burden from the NHS. You could provide the best healthcare to yourself and your family for as little as £20 per month by taking a private healthcare insurance policy. Prices do vary depending on Age, how many people you want covered and the type of policy you decide to take out.

Private health insurance premiums have different price points and levels of cover. You can decide which types of treatment you wish to be covered for, what the level of cover applied for that treatment is, and the hospital you desire the treatment to be carried out. You can also adjust the excess amount.

How much does Private Health Insurance cost?

The average cost for private health insurance premiums in the UK is £1,435 per year. However, the cost of private healthcare can vary depending on your circumstances;

Age – Age plays a large role in determining the cost of your insurance. The older you are the higher the chances of you requiring medical treatment and so the cost of cover increases.

Location – Where you live is also another deciding factor. The closer you are to a city, the more expensive healthcare generally is, and so the cost of insurance increases to reflect this.

Medical claims history – If you have any pre existing conditions that you wish to be included in a policy then your insurance cost will rise as a result. The types of health conditions you may have will also vary the cost.

Smoker or Non smoker? – Smokers carry a higher risk of becoming ill. If you are a smoker then you can expect to pay more for your insurance premium than a non smoker would.

Add-Ons? – The cost of your insurance will also depend on whether you decide to include additional options to add to your policy.

Level of cover – A basic health insurance cover will include in-patient treatment. However, if you need cover for out-patient treatments such as diagnosis and consultation, then the cost of your policy will be increased.

Amount of excess – Excess is the amount you pay towards your claim. You decide on this amount at the start of the policy. The higher the amount of excess, the lower the premium cost. Most excesses are only payable once per policy year per person.

Optional extras – All other medical treatments such as psychiatric, dental and optical are additional benefits which can be added to your policy for additional costs.

Always remember that the cheapest option available is not always the best for you. It is good practice to shop around for different quotes from a number of providers, seeking a balance between the right level of protection and the affordability of the policy.