Family health insurance quotes

Family health insurance

There’s nothing more important than safeguarding the health of you and your family.

While we’re lucky enough to have the NHS, several million people in the UK choose to take out private health insurance. It can be hard to work out what’s included under your policy – and whether it’s worth the money – so here’s what you need to know.

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What does family health insurance cover?

Family health insurance policies vary, depending on the insurance provider. But, as a general rule, a good policy should cover:

• Inpatient treatment and a hospital stay for a planned procedure
• Day patient treatment
• Outpatient treatment and consultations.

Most health insurance providers let you choose extras, such as physiotherapy, dental care, specific cancer cover and home nursing. That way you can tailor your policy to suit your family’s needs. You might also want to check whether your policy covers testing and diagnosis.

What doesn’t health insurance cover?

Again, policies vary, but most won’t cover you for:

• Chronic conditions
• Giving birth
• Cosmetic surgery (unless medically necessary).

How can I reduce the cost of my family health insurance?

Insurance providers typically let you tailor your package to fit your lifestyle, budget and healthcare needs. Inevitably, the younger, fitter and healthier you are, the cheaper your premiums will be.

There are other ways that you could potentially lower the cost of your premium:

1. Six weeks option – you can agree to receive NHS, rather than private, care if your appointment is within six weeks of a referral.
2. Keep extras to a minimum – extras, such as physiotherapy, could increase the cost of your premiums so consider whether you really need them.
3. Excess – you can increase the amount you pay towards any treatment, much like you do with car insurance.
4. Pay annually – this is usually cheaper than paying monthly as you won’t be charged interest.
5. Reduce the choice of hospitals – you can agree to limit the range of hospitals you have access to.
6. Live well – non-smokers normally pay less, while some insurance providers offer reduced premiums if you can prove you have a healthy weight or regularly visit the gym.
7. Speak to your employer – they may offer a discounted health insurance scheme and will often let you add family members to your policy.

If you’re looking to cover routine treatments, such as dental work, you might want to consider a health cash plan instead.

What else should I think about before taking out health insurance?

Before deciding which health insurance policy is right for you and your family, consider factors like:

• Your age – some policies have a maximum age limit for adults and children.
• The sort of treatment you’re likely to need. For example, children may benefit from extra dental cover.
• Activities and sports that might increase your family’s need for physiotherapy.
• Your family’s health history and how it may affect what’s included and excluded – check carefully to see if any existing medical conditions are covered.
• Hereditary conditions – if your family has a history of, say, cancer or heart disease, make sure you’ll be covered for treatment.
• If you or a family member has a disability, check that your policy covers any related treatment.
• How often you travel abroad – most health insurance providers won’t cover you outside the UK, so you’ll need separate travel insurance.