Help choosing health insurance in the UK

What health insurance policy is right for me?

In short, who you are, your requirements and your circumstances will dictate which health insurance policy is the right one for you. One of the first places to start before you can understand the best health insurance policy is to know about the different categories or groups that providers consider. We’ve written guides on these specific categories, such as retirees, anyone who is self-employed and families, but here’s a rundown of some of the key considerations.

Young professionals

When we refer to this category, we’re talking about people who are currently employed and won’t be retiring anytime soon. We sometimes find that people within this category are conscious of the cost, so here are some options to bear in mind when looking around:

1. You may be able to access health insurance through your employer, in the form of small business health insurance or corporate health insurance.
2. If you’re willing to receive some treatments through the NHS, a 4 or 6 week policy option may reduce your premium.
3. You are hopefully less likely to have a poor medical history, and may potentially have many policy options available to you.

Learn more in our blog dedicated to health insurance for young adults & working professionals.

Self-employed

As your business may heavily rely on your availability, taking time off work sick may pose a risk to your company operations. Think about the following:

1. Some providers offer the option of ‘fast-track GP’ which may reduce the time it takes to be seen in comparison to an NHS GP, allowing you to get back to work quicker.
2. You may have control over your appointment times through your policy, enabling you to potentially organise treatment around your work schedule.
3. There may be the option to purchase health insurance through your business.
   

If you fall into this category and you need more information, check out our self-employed health insurance blog.

Family 

Family health insurance can be a great option for anyone who wants to cover family members under a single policy. Consider these points:

1. You may be able to save money on your health insurance by purchasing a group or family policy in comparison to if you were to buy the policies individually.
2. You only handle one premium payment, so it’s easier to manage compared to multiple individual payments.
3. Some insurers will allow you to add new family members onto existing policies, subject to T&Cs.
4. Incentives may be offered, for example paying for the eldest child only.
   

If you’d like some more information, speak to us at Equity Health and we’ll let you know the options available to you. Alternatively,  check out our family health insurance if you’d like to read more around the topic.

Retiree

Retirees have a few things to bear in mind when planning their later life health plan. We often find that retirees are more concerned that their premium payments will remain sustainable in the years to come. Your health insurance policy needs to take the following into account:

1. You may have the option to continue your private medical insurance policy that was previously offered by your employer, subject to T&Cs.
2. Your medical history plays a role in the policies available to you and what treatment you may be offered. Bear in mind that any chronic conditions might not be included in any future policy you purchase.
3. You should review your policy annually to ensure you have the most competitive policy to suit your needs. We offer this service and provide a fair and personal analysis of the market to ensure you are receiving the best policy for you.

Learn more about health insurance for retirees.

Is health insurance the right decision for you?

If you’re unsure on whether health insurance is right for your needs, and you’d like some more information about the benefits and what to expect before making a purchase, we recommend that you read our blog: is private health insurance worth it?. You’ll learn about the benefits, the costs involved, and other useful tips. If you’re weighing up the decision between private medical treatment and health insurance, we’ve covered that too! Learn more about what private healthcare in the UK looks like.

Choosing a policy that suits your needs

The right policy for you is one that’s personalised and built around your requirements. Depending on the provider, you may have a choice over many exclusions or inclusions on your contract. Tailoring them to suit what it is you’d like to benefit from your private health insurance policy is a sure-fire way to feel like your policy is the right one. Here are some of the personalisations to consider:

Hospital list

Your hospital list defines where you’re able to receive treatment under your health insurance policy. Some hospital inclusions may cause your premium to rise, and if there are some that you chose to exclude, this may result in a lower premium. It depends entirely on the provider, but refining the hospitals that you want to access is something we advise for making your policy personal to you.

Complementary therapies

If the right policy for you is one that includes access to complementary therapies, such as physiotherapy or acupuncture, then you should make this known when contacting providers. Some may offer this as a standard policy inclusion, others may increase the premium to represent the increased coverage, and some providers may not offer this at all.

Provider benefits

Some providers offer their members additional benefits for holding a policy with them, such as discounts, memberships and products rewards. Although you cannot choose what benefits your provider offers, you may want to consider what’s on offer before committing. You may even find you have some choice over the benefits you receive through a rewards points system.

Your budget for premium and excess costs

If you have a budget in mind for your policy, this is also an important factor in determining what will be available to you. It’s worth noting that you might be able to reduce the cost of a premium offered to you by opting for a higher excess when you require treatment. If the price is at the forefront of your priorities, we’ve written some handy tips that could help you to keep the cost down in our How much is private health insurance blog.

Compare your options to find the right policy for you

We advocate that anyone considering health insurance takes the time to compare their options across a multitude of providers. It will help you to understand the different options available to you and therefore make an informed decision when purchasing.

Help choosing health insurance

As an independent broker, we can compare your policy options across some of the leading UK providers and answer any questions you have along the way. We take the time to understand exactly what it is you’re looking for, and we’ll use this information to provide you with a single best policy option. It’s a free service, and you’re under no obligation to purchase.

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FAQs

“I just want someone to help me choose a health insurance plan”

• No problem, we’ll listen to your requirements and get to work to find you the most competitive policy based on what you need.

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“What health plan is best for me?”

• It depends on your requirements, medical history and personal preferences. An independent broker can help you to understand what’s on offer.

“How do I choose the best health insurance plan?”

• To find your best health insurance plan, you’ll need to compare all of the options available to you. Only then can you be confident that the option you’ve chosen is the best. If you need help comparing your options, we’re on hand to help.