There are a lot of things to consider when taking out private medical insurance. If it's new to you, you may be confused by types of cover and exactly what's included in a policy.

One thing you will be sure of though, is that you want to get the best private medical insurance for you and your needs.

You may already have a health insurance policy and be unsure if you've got the best cover for you or at the best price available. Read on to learn what to look for when comparing or switching policy providers.

We’re exploring key things you need to know to find the best private medical insurance and how to tailor your policy to your needs.

Is Private Medical Insurance worth it?

If you want protection for your future health, then we think private medical insurance is absolutely worth it.

Beyond the key benefits of skipping NHS waiting lists and having healthcare bills covered, health insurance also includes many additional benefits. These can support the rest of your life, especially when it comes to living a healthier lifestyle.

As it currently stands, there are around 7.5 million cases on the NHS waiting list. Health insurance can make all the difference when it comes to being seen quicker and getting back to the life you love.

How does Health Insurance work?

Simply put, health insurance cover works by you paying a monthly or annual premium to a provider. If you need to make a claim, you'll be covered for your healthcare bills (taking into consideration any limits and excess on the policy.) 

You'll also be covered for treatment in a private healthcare setting when you get ill or injured. 

There will be many things to consider when taking out a policy, such as levels of cover, excess amounts and optional extras.

Health Insurance benefits

Some of the key and most crucial benefits of a health insurance policy are:

• Skipping NHS waiting lists – you’ll get quicker access to healthcare for treatments the NHS deem as non-urgent.
• Comprehensive cancer cover – most policies include comprehensive cancer cover, which includes palliative care, diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, etc.
• Digital GP services – you’ll get access to digital consultations with a qualified doctor. This usually includes 24/7 availability and no queues to get appointments.

Other key benefits include health and well-being support, such as discounted gym memberships, fitness product discounts, mental health support and a choice of private hospitals.

Pre-existing conditions

It’s important to know that the aim of private health insurance is to get you back to the same level of health you were in when you took out the policy.

It only covers you for illnesses or injuries that occur once you’ve taken the policy out, you won’t be covered for anything before. This is where pre-existing conditions will be excluded in your policy.

Common pre-existing conditions include: asthma, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, back pain and high blood pressure among others.

Basically, anything you’ve had symptoms, advice, treatment or medication for, before taking out the policy.

It’s crucial to remember though, that although these won’t be covered in your policy, it doesn't mean you can't get health insurance in preparation for any future health issues that may arise.

This is why it’s a good idea to be covered before you have any issues, it means that any health issues will then be covered (provided they're included in the policy cover) and you have total peace of mind.

Health insurance should be considered as something to get before you need it.

Understanding pre-existing conditions can be confusing, so it can be beneficial to get expert advice and support from a health insurance intermediary, like Usay Compare. You'll understand exactly what your cover includes. 

The UK's top Medical Insurance providers

Within the UK, there are many leading health insurance providers offering alternative solutions to healthcare and access to private healthcare services.

Some of the top providers include: Aviva, AXA, Bupa, Freedom Health Insurance, The Exeter, Vitality and WPA. At Usay Compare we pride ourselves on working with the UK’s leading insurers to bring the best cover options to our customers.

These providers are well-established in the UK healthcare market, have a long history of providing insurance solutions and are some of the most trusted names. Factors include, cover options, customer reviews and affordability.

We work closely with these insurers to be able to provide a range of options and recommendations to suit a wide range of our customers' needs.

We provide medical insurance comparison of all the UK leading providers, to ensure our customers get the best policy for them at the best price. 

Private Medical Insurance comparison 

Comparing private medical insurance policies is a great way to be sure that you’ve got the best policy for you at the best price.

Using a free comparison service like Usay Compare takes the hard work out of comparing multiple policies. With so many options out there, what should you be looking for in a private medical insurance comparison?

Cover options

You’ll need to consider what cover options are available and how much cover you'd like. Do you want a policy that just covers the basics? Or do you want fully comprehensive cover and peace of mind?

In-patient and out-patient cover: Typically, in-patient cover is included in a health insurance policy as standard.

In-patient cover is for when you’re admitted to hospital and stay overnight. This includes hospital accommodation charges, specialist fees such as consultants, surgeons and anaesthetists, diagnostic tests and scans such as CT, PET or MRI, plus X-rays or physiological tests.

Out-patient cover may be included to some extent, but you’ll usually have the option of comprehensive cover, limited or none at all.

Out-patient cover includes visiting a hospital and returning home the same day without being admitted. This includes the cost of consultations, diagnostic scans/tests and some minor surgical procedures.

Cancer cover: Most insurers offer comprehensive cancer cover, but what’s included can change between insurer. If this is something that’s important to you, consider what’s offered by different insurers and what you’d like.

Often this will include: palliative care, diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and follow-up support too.

Excess: You’ll need to consider what excess you’d be willing to pay.

A lower excess will make your premium higher, but a higher excess will lower it. It’s important to consider what would be affordable if you needed to make a claim and what would be manageable.

This is something to consider during the private medical insurance comparison process.

Hospital Options: Consider what you want from hospital options? Do you want a long extensive list or are you happy with a guided list that would lower premiums. A guided hospital option means that the insurer will provide you with a selection of hospitals/specialists to choose from.

Optional Extras: You’ll be able to consider what optional extras you want added to your policy based on your needs. These can include: dental, optical, mental health and therapies and extended out-patient cover.

What is the best Medical Insurance?

There is no simple, straight forward answer of what the best private medical insurance is. Private medical insurance is bespoke and comes down to each individual's needs.

Medical insurance will vary based on what you choose to be covered in your policy and what’s important to you.

You could get a policy with a moderate level of cover starting from £25 a month, or if you wanted more cover and peace of mind, the price would rise. Prices of policies also depend on other key factors, such as age and location. 

There is a lot to consider when it comes to cover on health insurance and it is important to get right, after all, our health is our most important asset. 

Speaking to a health insurance intermediary is an effective way to make sure you're getting the best policy for you, at the best price.

Expert advisers can guide you through the entire process and provide advice and recommendations on which health insurance is better for your needs.

You can walk away with peace of mind knowing exactly what you're covered for and how your health is protected. 

Fill out the form below to get a quote or give us a call on: 01285 864670.