What Is Private Medical Insurance?
Private health insurance covers the cost of private healthcare. Like other insurance, you’ll pay monthly or annual premiums – then, should you need private medical treatment, your provider will pay out for some or all of the cost.
Private medical insurance works as a helping hand when you need it most, from in-patient treatment to extra support for mental health, depending on your policy. You can take out private health insurance for yourself, or as a joint policy to cover you and your partner.
How Does Private Medical Insurance Work?
Private health insurance covers the cost of private healthcare. Like other insurance, you’ll pay monthly or annual premiums – then, should you need private medical treatment, your provider will pay out for some or all of the cost.
Private medical insurance works as a helping hand when you need it most, from in-patient treatment to extra support for mental health, depending on your policy. You can take out private health insurance for yourself, or as a joint policy to cover you and your partner.
You’ll usually pay a monthly fee and then make claims for any eligible private healthcare you receive. Your insurance will cover some, or all of the costs of private treatments and may even give you a cash benefit for stays in NHS hospitals.
The main benefits of private medical insurance are that you’ll get access to private healthcare and usually get treatment faster than on the NHS. Many providers offer access to GP appointments through digital GP apps, giving you fast access to medical support, as well as a faster referral to any further private treatment. Some also offer direct access to physiotherapists or mental health specialists without the need to wait for a GP referral, which also gets you the treatment and support you need, quicker.
This depends on the policy you choose. Some just cover private treatments, others also cover diagnosis and offer ongoing support for cancer, or for mental health issues.
Think about your individual needs – what do you want to get from health insurance? Then compare health insurance policies to find one that provides the right cover for you