Health insurance policy is that type of policy where the insurer pays a certain amount for some covered sickness to you on the basis of a payment of a certain amount of premium at a monthly or annual basis.
Each insurer and each product has its own range of choices, and there are many different ways of describing the main areas covered. Among them the most common medical costs that are covered under private medical insurance are:
•hospital charges including accommodation costs
•consultants and specialists fees
•radiotherapy and chemotherapy
•physiotherapy
•psychiatric treatment
•diagnostic tests
•scans
Other benefits include nursing at home, private ambulance, recuperative care, complementary therapies, alternative medicines, chiropody, parent accommodation, dental surgery, pregnancy consultations and tests etc.
There are some conditions where even after long on-going treatments the patients are not recovered or they may need more on going treatments. This may happen with diseases like asthma, diabetes etc. A private medical insurance cannot cover the treatments for such conditions. These can be covered under NHS which is the public funded insurance provider in UK. No doubt NHS has done a great job in caring about the nation’s health, but due to the hectic schedule people hate to wait in long queues for treatment. Here comes the benefit of private Health care, and this can be easily done through private health insurance. But it should be kept in mind that it is not an alternative to NHS.
Most Private Medical Insurance does not cover the following:
•Drug Abuse
•HIV related illness
•Dental problems
•Infertility treatment
•Sterilization
•Cosmetic surgery (to solely enhance appearance)
•Recurrent long term illness (chronic conditions)
Personal medical insurance contracts are offered on an annual basis, with premiums paid monthly, quarterly or annually. Discounts are sometimes offered by many companies.
Apart from providing medical insurance for UK citizens, many insurance companies provide insurance policies to foreigners or to the citizens of UK who have gone to foreign countries either for business, travel or study. International medical insurance is also cheap and affordable.
It is important to collect several individual health insurance quotes available in the market when you plan to obtain health insurance. With all the free resources available on the Internet, you can now easily accomplish this step professionally from your own home. It is much easier to shop around now with the online facilities available at various insurance companies. Therefore, you should unquestionably buy a private medical insurance.
Private Medical Insurance Companies
The origin of private medical insurance goes back a long way – before the NHS was formed. In pre-NHS days, people contributed to “friendly societies”, which provided financial assistance to people in times of need. Some private medical insurance providers, such as BUPA, remain non-profit-distributing bodies, though there are also many commercial insurance companies providing private medical insurance these days. One of the best-known names in private medical insurance cover is AXA PPP healthcare ( ) – which was actually conceived in 1938 to provide a health insurance scheme for middle income earners in London.
The principal aim of private medical insurance is designed to cover treatment of “acute illness” – defined by Which? As “conditions which can be cured or substantially alleviated by treatment.” Treatment of chronic illnesses, such as multiple sclerosis or arthritis, may not be covered by private medical; so critical illness insurance might be more suitable. Critical insurance cover will be based on your individual requirements – so shop around for the right policy and always be completely open with your insurance provider, or you may invalidate a claim at a later date.
Other treatments generally excluded from private medical insurance include cosmetic surgery, treatment for alcohol or drug abuse and infertility treatment. The majority of standard policies exclude private consultations of a GP, routine check-ups and dental work – unless it is undertaken in a hospital. However, always check your private medical insurance policy – as some will be more comprehensive than others.
Private medical insurance can be an effective way of ensuring swift access to medical care for your family. Just remember that insurance policies reflect your exact circumstances – so don’t assume that one size fits all.
For additional information on private medical insurance and critical illness insurance:
“Be your own financial advisor”, Which? Consumer Guides, author Jonquil Lowe
http://www.axappphealthcare.co.uk/body/html/consumer/products/uk/pmi.jhtml (Private healthcare in the UK)
Both Jenny Black & Rachel Lane are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jenny Black has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health Insurance, Dental Insurance and Health Insurance. Jenny Black is the financial analyst at Health Insurance UK. To find more about , individual health insur. Jenny Black's top article generates over 22200 views. to your Favourites.
Rachel Lane has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family Concerns, Finances and Unsecured Loans. Bigmouthmedia is one of the UK's leading Search Marketing agencies, specialising in paid search, organic search, external optimisation and online PR. Clients include MTV, Sony Ericsson, Barclays, and. Rachel Lane's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.
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