If you or a member of your family were to fall ill, wouldn't it be nice to know that speedy access to quality healthcare and support was available? Although the NHS should be your first port of call for typical accidents and emergencies, sometimes it can be a long time before treatment is available for medical conditions. It is also worth bearing in mind that with private medical insurance you can often choose where you are treated.

Types of Cover Available

Broadly speaking there are 3 types of cover available:

• Conventional insurance plans - which schedule the benefits in terms of full refund of costs for in-patient treatments and varying levels of cover or exclusions for outpatient treatments. This type of plan is the most comprehensive.
• Six week plans - these work in a similar manner to the previous category, but will only pay if the treatment is not available on the NHS within 6 weeks of diagnosis.
• Cash plans - these pay a defined benefit for each procedure or consultation without regard as to whether or not the benefit meets the cost to you. Some of these plans are close to full compensation; many are a long way short of it.

Other factors -

Excesses - One way to keep the costs down is to accept a voluntary excess. The way that this applies varies from insurer to insurer. Some apply the excess per condition, some apply it to the person irrespective of all the treatments in any one policy year. Excess levels can be quite small e.g. £100, £150 etc and can offer a significant discount on the total premium.

Underwriting - There are two general methods available as regards underwriting. With full medical underwriting the insurers seek a full history from the individual and the GP, and may then exclude cover for pre-existing conditions. With moratorium underwriting, there is no need to fill in a health questionnaire. Instead, the insurer will not cover treatment of any condition which has existed in a period, often 2 years, before the cover begins.

Choice of Hospitals - Most insurers will only work through a defined range of hospitals. Access to exclusive hospitals in central London tends to be more expensive although access to quality healthcare in your local area is normally readily available.

Additional Options - Some policies allow the inclusion of optional extras such as Dental benefits, travel insurance and critical illness insurance.

Support Facilities - Various policies offer alternative support for example, a 24-hour GP Advice line or Legal advice and support.

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