Benefits of health insurance in UK 2023 – Everything You Need to Know

Benefits of health insurance in UK 2023: Health insurance, often known as private medical insurance, grants you access to private hospitals and healthcare services in the United Kingdom in the event of an emergency. You pay a monthly premium, and if you become injured or ill, you can file a claim and see a private doctor. Like with other types of insurance, your coverage will vary depending on the options you select when purchasing the policy. For instance, there is insurance that only covers the expense of treatments requiring an overnight hospital stay (inpatient) and others that cover diagnostic testing, consultations, outpatient care, and mental health assistance. As may be expected, basic policies tend to be quite inexpensive, but comprehensive coverage is typically more expensive.

Vitally, health insurance only covers acute medical issues or those that can be treated reasonably rapidly. Chronic diseases requiring continuing management as opposed to quick treatment will not be covered.

Top 10 benefits of health insurance in the UK

These are the major advantages of purchasing a health insurance policy in the United Kingdom:

1. Receive treatment sooner

Maybe the greatest advantage of having health insurance in the United Kingdom is that you will typically be treated considerably faster than if you went through the National Health Service. Obviously, there are exceptions to this rule, but in general, private care expedites the therapy you require. As stated by this British Medical Association article, more patients than ever are currently waiting for NHS care, which is one of the primary reasons for the rise in the number of people who have never before had private medical insurance purchasing coverage.

2. Be diagnosed sooner

If you choose an all-inclusive plan, you will receive a confidential diagnosis and treatment. You would always begin with a visit to your primary care physician, but instead of being sent to the National Health Service for tests, scans, and consultations, everything would take place privately. Effectively reducing your dependency on the NHS and reducing the likelihood of being placed on a waiting list is possibly the greatest advantage of comprehensive programmes. In the end, a quicker diagnosis implies quicker treatment, which is why many individuals choose comprehensive coverage over basic.

3. Excellent cancer cover

In 2015, Cancer Research reported that one in two persons in the United Kingdom may develop cancer at some point in their lives. Due to the direct relationship between recovery and survival rates and the rapidity of diagnosis and treatment, this is one of the most important reasons to obtain private health insurance. All of the greatest private health insurance providers in the United Kingdom offer outstanding cancer coverage, and you can typically expect to be identified and treated considerably faster than if you had a policy. In addition to receiving treatment sooner, you will also receive additional support along the journey. This may include access to skilled counsellors, the ability to receive chemotherapy at home, and, if necessary, funding for prostheses and wigs. Cancer coverage is a crucial component of the plans of all of the industry’s top providers; they recognise the significance of this benefit to their clients and, in most cases, offer coverage and care of the highest quality.

4. A private room while you’re in the hospital

You could spend anywhere from a few days to many months in the hospital, depending on the diagnosis. At the hospital, you will get a private room if you opt for private care. While this may appear to be a relatively minor benefit, for many patients, privacy throughout their hospital stay can have a substantial impact on their overall hospital experience. Not only will you receive a private room, but most private hospitals also have far more flexible visiting hours. So that your family can visit more regularly and at convenient hours, as opposed to being restricted by tougher rules in an NHS hospital. Several of the largest insurers will also cover the expense of accommodations for parents whose children are hospitalised, allowing them to spend more time with their children and less time driving home.

5. Access to drugs and treatments not routinely available on the NHS

Despite the fact that the NHS provides access to several medicines, some are restricted or not approved due to their expense or experimental nature. With private health insurance, many of these limits will be lifted, allowing you to get the most advanced medications and treatments regardless of their cost. Again, there will be exceptions, and all drugs and therapies must be approved by NICE for their usage to be considered, but when you are examined privately, your options are significantly greater.

6. Virtual GP services

Virtual GP services also referred to as digital GP, are offered by the majority of top providers and policies. Most insurance will allow you to schedule a telephone or video consultation session with a primary care physician via an app or online. It usually means that you can obtain the necessary medical advice, medications, and referrals much more quickly than if you tried to schedule an appointment with your local NHS general practitioner. Some health insurance providers even allow you to plan Physician visits around the clock to accommodate your schedule. Since NHS GPs have reduced physical appointments at their clinics over the past few years, the demand for these virtual GP services has increased.

There are numerous programmes, such as Livi and Simplyhealth, that allow you to pay privately to see a Physician, so you do not need private health insurance to get a virtual GP appointment.

7. Mental health support

Private health insurance typically includes 24/7 access to a professional mental health nurse for mental health support. Several providers now incorporate access to talking therapy into their primary offerings. If you’d want broader coverage, you can elect to purchase Mental Health Cover in addition to your insurance, which will remove a number of limits and provide you with outpatient access to psychiatrists and other mental health providers.

8. Choice over where, when and who treats you

You typically have little control over where, when, and who treats you through the NHS; it’s a postcode lottery, and you’re confined to the available hospitals, consultants, and appointment slots. With private health insurance, you have a broader selection of treatment options. First, it is important to note that your choice of consultant and hospital will rely on the options you select when setting up your health insurance policy. By default, insurers will provide you with a national hospital list, and they will also likely propose your consultant. But, you have the opportunity to include other hospitals on your list and to select your own consultant. If access to the finest of the best is crucial to you, then it may be worthwhile to pay for both of them. In any case, you will have a great deal of flexibility in scheduling your treatment with any health insurance plan. Typically speaking, the private sector has the most availability, allowing you to schedule your treatment around your other obligations.

9. Annual health checks

Most top health insurers in the United Kingdom incorporate a yearly health check as part of their coverage. It is an opportunity for you to examine your present physical health in detail, and for medical specialists to identify any potential problems in advance. Your cholesterol profile, your mobility and flexibility, body fat percentage, BMI, your blood pressure, and many other factors will be evaluated during your yearly health check.

10. Discounted gym membership and other exclusive offers

Lastly, all health insurance carriers in the United Kingdom provide discounts for various items, which can help offset the cost of your policy. The largest and most popular offer is a cheap gym membership, but there are also discounts on coffee, clothing, travel, and more. If cost is important to you, determining which providers offer the most useful discounts is a smart way to reduce the overall cost of your health insurance.

Disadvantages of health insurance

There are downsides to health insurance, and we believe it is necessary to provide a fair perspective on the service and all pertinent information. Following are what we perceive to be the primary drawbacks:

• Health insurance can be pricey and is not technically necessary because the NHS provides free healthcare.
• Typically, the cost increases each year with age, making it expensive in old age.
• Not every illness and therapy will be covered.
• There are no emergency services included.
• You may receive better care through the NHS. The care is not of poorer quality just because it is provided for free.

Private health insurance and the NHS

The private healthcare system is not a substitute for the NHS; rather, it is a complementary service that should be utilised in conjunction with the public health system. There are a number of reasons for this, but the most important is that commercial health insurance does not cover chronic, incurable diseases. Although you may have received a private diagnosis, you must seek NHS treatment and management for certain illnesses. Also, private hospitals do not offer accident and emergency services, so if you become suddenly ill, you would still need to visit your local A&E. Lastly, while most health insurance carriers offer the option to include children on a policy, the National Health Service gives precedence to young people, so the advantages of private coverage are frequently diminished.

Frequently Asked Questions