Healthcare Insurance

The next decade is going to place an increasing burden on the NHS and could be an opportunity for private medical insurance to play a larger role in providing health care for people in the UK. The NHS has been around for more than 60 years and is facing the challenge of dealing with a higher population, a higher percentage of older people, people living for longer and working longer. On top of this is the cost of implementing costly new treatments and drugs as a result of medical advances. Of course for those that can't afford private medical insurance it is crucial that the NHS continues to offer a good service for all those that rely on it.

A result of the extra burden placed on the NHS and faced with possible cuts in funding we could see the restriction of care to some groups and the end of some of the free services we currently benefit from on the NHS. For example, medical treatment may be restricted for the obese or smokers and we could see much more expensive prescriptions and charges to see a GP. Already we have seen people on the NHS given the option of paying for cancer drugs not normally available.

The NHS already increasingly has to make choices about what treatments to offer. Private medical insurance already gives people access to drugs and treatments not available on the NHS. Already the cost of these drugs is being felt by private medical insurers.

Increasingly people are aware of long waiting times on the NHS and confidence in the NHS has been dented because of stories about dirty NHS hospitals riddled with superbugs. In reality waiting times have been reduced in the last couple of years and the incidence of so-called super bugs has also reduced. However public perception is that private health care can offer a better quality of care. Another opportunity for private medical insurance to capitalise on.

Private medical insurers need to ensure that they have a range of policies and levels of cover and premiums to suit all budgets. More could be done to educate consumers about how they can find the right cover at an affordable price. For example, by explaining that there are ways of reducing premiums, excesses, opting to pay for some of the treatment etc. For most people it is the perceived cost that prevents them from taking out private medical insurance. However premiums may be less than people think. For example, research from Which? 2010 found that for a man aged 60 premiums ranged from £18 to £199 a month. A family could insure themselves for £35 to £230 a month. Again the private medical industry could do more to educate consumers about the real cost of private health care.

We can Help you Find the Right Private Medical Insurance Policy

Private medical insurance is complicated and it's essential that you choose the right policy. We specialise in medical insurance cover and will search the market and help you find the right cover at the best price available. Quotes for medical insurance are free and you are under no obligation.