5 things to consider when comparing health insurance policies

If you’re new to health insurance, it can look confusing at first. With many different insurers,  policy types and inclusions available, where do you start?

Whether you're looking to take out a policy for the first time, you're at the renewal stage or looking to switch, using a free private health insurance comparison service can ensure you're getting the best policy at the best price.

Especially if you have specific needs or your needs have changed in recent months or years. 

We’re taking a look at the five key things to consider when you compare health insurance plans and how they can benefit you.

1. Your policy needs

Health insurance policies are never a one-size-fits-all product and it’s best to understand your needs to begin with to be sure that the policy is best suited for you and you get the most out of it.

Whilst your circumstances – things like your age and where you live - can have a big influence on your policy premiums, they are not things you are likely to be able to change. The level of cover however, is all up to you - you can pick and choose the things which are important to you and those which fit your budget.

Comparing policies will ensure that you have explored all avenues and options that suit your needs, to ensure you're getting the best policy, rather than only considering one insurer or policy type. 

2. Core coverage and options to tailor your policy

Core coverage is typically the same among insurers and includes:

In-patient cover: Cover for when you’re admitted to hospital and stay overnight.

Cover includes hospital accommodation charges, specialist fees such as consultants, surgeons and anesthetists, diagnostic tests and scans such as CT, PET or MRI, plus X-rays or physiological tests.

Out-patient cover: Covers you when you visit a hospital and return home the same day without being admitted.

Out-patient cover includes the cost of consultations, diagnostic scans/tests and some minor surgical procedures.

You can choose to have a fully comprehensive option which includes out-patient cover in full, remove this cover or limit it. If you choose to limit your outpatient cover, there are usually a range of limits you can set, usually from £500 to £1,500.

Day Patient Cover: Covers you when you’re admitted to hospital and discharged the same day. Covers the same things as in-patient cover.

Cancer Cover: Most Health Insurance policies will offer cancer cover within their core cover. It is one of the most valued benefits of health insurance policies, but also an important factor to compare as the level of cover included within core cover can vary.

You would be looking for this to include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery and consultants' fees in the core cover.

Some areas to compare would be options for home treatment, the allowance for prosthesis and wigs, out-patient treatment and cash benefits if you are treated on the NHS.  

Once you’ve chosen your insurer and have the core cover sorted, you have the option to tailor your policy, by choosing what add-ons you need.

This can make sure your needs are met and also means your policy is tailored to you and what matters most.

• Dental cover
• Optical cover
• Mental health treatment
• Therapies, such as physiotherapy, osteopath and acupuncture

It’s important to remember that optional extras vary by insurer and some optional extras for some insurers may be included in core cover for others, for example, Bupa offer dental cover as part of their core offering.

There’s a lot to compare and it’s worth considering getting free expert advice from a health insurance comparison service.

You can also tailor your policy with additional options which may affect the price of your premium for example:

No Claims Discount (NCD):  Your level of NCD will vary according to whether you currently have PMI or not.

If you have, the insurer will take your claims history into account when calculating your premium.

Excess: If you choose to add a voluntary excess to your policy you will be responsible for the first part of any claim you make, to a specified amount, ranging from £100 to £5,000. 

Hospital lists: All insurers have a list of approved hospitals you can choose to attend for treatment.

You may be able to reduce your premium by excluding certain prestigious or city centre hospitals.

3. Different health insurer benefits

All insurers have different benefits and whilst these can be useful, they are not the main reason you should consider a policy. Core cover and add-ons that suit you should be prioritised.

However, they could benefit your life and it's important to know exactly what benefits you're getting with your policy.

For example, some insurers offer discounted gym membership, reward schemes for being healthy or lifestyle and nutrition consultations.

Most insurers will offer 24/7 digital GP services, and access mental health and wellbeing support.

Vitality offer their members the option of an in-person private GP appointment for a discounted rate of £20. Although this wouldn't be free, it makes visiting a private GP more accessible and may be better than the long wait.

The NHS England GP patient Survey highlighted that  14.2 million patients felt they were “waiting too long” for a GP appointment.

Find out more about what’s available with Digital GPs and how it can benefit you, as well as what to expect from each insurer.

4. Hospital lists and networks of healthcare providers

Different insurance providers will have access to different hospital lists and networks.

For example, Aviva have a large range of hospitals, both private and NHS, and have access to large networks such as Nuffield Health and Spire.

These are important considerations as you might have a preference of private hospital provider you would prefer to visit or which is local to you.

This is worth considering in your comparison options to help find the best policy for you.

The hospital lists insurers offer may also have an effect on policy premiums.

5. Your budget

Health insurance can be accessible and affordable. More people than ever are realising the importance of health insurance and how it can fit into their budget and lifestyle.

However, you don’t want to be spending money on a policy that doesn't best suit your needs or could be costing more than you need to pay.

By comparing health insurance policies and providers, it can help to make sure you’re getting a policy with coverage that suits your budget and fits nicely into your lifestyle.

Taking the time to compare health insurance policies also means that you’re likely to be getting the best deal as the first one you see may not always be the cheapest.

How to compare health insurance?

Using a free health insurance comparison service like Usay Compare, has many benefits, including:

Expert Advice

Our advisers know the ins and outs of health insurance and the UK’s leading providers.

With extensive adviser training and authorisation from The Financial Conduct Authority we provide advice and recommendations to our customers.

This ensures we can give you the best service possible and help you find the most suitable policy for your needs, at the best price guaranteed.

They can provide free advice on the type of cover, level of cover and each insurer.

Stress-free for you

Using an advised service can definitely make searching and comparing health insurance policies stress-free.

Our team of expert advisers who know the ins and outs of the health insurance world use our comparison technology to find the best cover for you.

This will save you time searching different sites or contacting insurers directly to get quotes.

It may be tempting to try and do the research yourself or get a quote online. However, by speaking to an expert, it ensures that all your needs and requirements are understood.

Peace of mind

We have years of experience helping to find the most suitable policies for our customers.

Along with a stress-free health insurance search, you can have peace of mind that our advisers compare the best health insurance policies from the leading insurers, taking into consideration your needs and budget. 

You also have peace of mind knowing you have the best price guaranteed.

Understand every detail of your policy

Another benefit of using an expert comparison service is that you can fully understand the intricacies of your policy. Your adviser will take time to explain everything and answer any questions you may have.

This means if the time comes that you need to make a claim, you won’t have any surprises and can be confident in what your policy covers.

Overall, there are undeniable benefits to comparing health insurance policies when making the decision to get cover.

If you want to know more about what policy would suit you or what cover you can get, get a free quote by filling out the form below.