Health insurance

There are times when we all need a trip to the doctor or even the hospital. And don't forget that to prevent health problems we often need regular care, like visits to the dentist or the opticians to check everything's ok

From special dental or optical policies, to private medical insurance, there's lots of different types of health insurance. There are even plans around which pay out money to cover your household bills if you are hospitalised and can't work.

Private medical insurance
Private medical insurance pays for private healthcare within set limits. It's for covering unexpected and curable health problems, rather than if you have a chronic (long-term) illness, and is beneficial if you are not happy to rely on the NHS.

Key pros and cons of private medical insurance

Pros

  • Could be useful if you don't want to rely on the NHS or want to choose exactly when and where you are treated
  • It may be good if you want better facilities, you'll often get a private room
  • If you want to go private even a minor operation can cost upwards of £2,500 - so private medical care is often the only way most people can afford it

Cons

  • Private medical insurance can be expensive, and the older you get, the more expensive it often is
  • There are limits as to what it covers and pays out, so in some cases you still might have to pay some costs

Things to consider when taking out private medical cover:

  • Which hospitals can you be treated in? Do you have to pay extra for a particular hospital?
  • What's the excess for different types of claims?
  • Are you covered for just operations, or as an outpatient too?
  • Are you covered for medicines when you're an outpatient?
  • What is the maximum for different types of claim and is there a maximum number of times you can claim for the same thing?
  • Are your children covered? If so, up to what age?
  • Does the policy cover alternative or complementary medicines?
  • How long do you need to have the policy before you can make a claim?

What are you not covered for? Most policies don't include:

  • Paying for tests when you are an outpatient
  • Dental cover or optical cover
  • Pregnancy related medical conditions
  • Pre-existing conditions

Making a claim
For information on making a claim visit our making a claim section.

Cash plans
These provide a cash payout if you have to spend time in hospital and it's up to you how you spend the money. Some plans also cover the cost of treatments too, up to set limits, like physiotherapy, osteopathy, acupuncture, dental care and optical care, as well as the cost of NHS prescriptions. But if you have any condition before you took out the policy, it is not normally covered.

Key pros and cons of cash plans

Pros

  • Could be useful if you would struggle to pay bills if you had to stay in hospital
  • Can often include day to day items, like paying for glasses or prescriptions
  • It's often quite cheap

Cons

  • It won't speed up you getting any treatment or get you better facilities
  • Sometimes you need to have the policy for a set time before you can make a claim
  • If it covers treatment costs, there may be maximum limits for different claims, so you may end up having to pay some of the costs yourself

Things to consider when taking out cash plans:

  • How much is the payout for when you are in hospital and is there a maximum number of nights it pays for?
  • Are there different levels of cover you can choose which pay different rates?
  • Is there a maximum number of claims you can make?
  • Does it cover the cost of treatments, like physiotherapy, osteopathy, acupuncture, dental care and optical care, as well as the cost of NHS prescriptions?
  • If treatments are covered, what are the payout limits?
  • What are the policy exclusions?
  • Is there a policy excess you have to pay?
  • Are there different levels of payout for different claims?
  • Are your children covered? If so, up to what age?
  • Does the policy cover alternative or complementary medicines?
  • How long do you need to have the policy before you can make a claim?

    Making a claim
    For information on making a claim visit our making a claim section.

    Dental insurance
    Whilst some cash plans include dental cover, you can also get separate dental insurance plans. With these you pay a monthly fee and there are often different levels of cover you can choose from, depending if you use a NHS or private dentist. You can make a claim up to a certain limit for each time you need to have dental work done.

    You'll usually be covered for standard treatments such as check-ups, fillings, gum disease treatment, extraction and bridgework repairs. You won't normally be covered for cosmetic dental work.

    Key pros and cons of dental insurance

    Pros

  • Lets you spread the costs of looking after your teeth by paying a set amount each month
  • You can often choose different levels of cover, depending if you use an NHS or private dentist

    Cons

    • There may be a maximum number of claims you can make each year and set payout limits for different claims

    Things to consider when taking out dental insurance:

  • Are there different levels of cover you can choose which pay different rates?
  • Is there a maximum number of claims you can make each year?
  • Is there a policy excess you have to pay?
  • What are the policy exclusions?
  • Are there different levels of payout for different claims?
  • How long do you need to have the policy before you can make a claim?

    Making a claim
    For information on making a claim visit our making a claim section.