We all suffer from various injuries and illnesses throughout our lives. Therefore, in order to pay out for the treatments of these, one must have private medical insurance. In this article, you will understand the working of this insurance and what all things it covers.
Understanding Private Medical Insurance
Private medical insurance is a kind of coverage that pays for an individual’s private medical surgeries, tests and treatment. This is valid when a person is injured or ill during the period of the policy. Generally, the insurance is designed for acute conditions, which last for a short term and are curable. These include hernias, cataracts, fractures, appendicitis, joint replacement, etc.
The individual is supposed to pay a certain amount monthly, called premium, for their health insurance. Their insurance pays out if they require any treatment that the policy covers while it is active.
It is designed to provide an individual with the treatment besides the services offered by the NHS (National Health Services). For instance, your appointments will still be through the NHS, but with medical insurance, you may get:
- A wider range of drugs and kinds of treatment
- A private room or better facilities
- An option for where you get your treatment
- Treatment as soon as possible
5 Things that the Private Medical Insurance Covers
The things that the private medical insurance covers largely depend on the kind of insurance you opt for. These insurances are of three kinds – which differ on the basis of their premiums – basic, medium and comprehensive.
The things that are covered in the private medical insurance are:
#1: Pre-Treatment Outpatient Costs
When an individual is an outpatient, the fees for the consultations, diagnostic tests and scans like PET, CT, and MRI are covered.
When your consultant refers to your private medical hospital regarding the diagnosis of your condition, your consultation costs are covered. This takes place before the treatment when you are an outpatient.
The tests that the consultant asks to be done in order to find out what is wrong are also covered. The insurance company also pays the clinic or hospital charges, while you undergo these tests as an outpatient. The cover also includes scans like PET, CT and MRI and the charges for the interpretation of their results.
#2: Hospital or Clinic Treatment
The fees for consultation, like that of physicians, anaesthetists and surgeons, are covered by the private medical insurance. Moreover, the charges for your care and treatment while you are an outpatient or an inpatient at the clinic or hospital are also paid.
#3: Post-Treatment Outpatient Costs
Similar to pre-treatment outpatient costs, the costs for post-treatment outpatient are also covered by private medical insurance. These include consultations when your consultant or GP (General Practitioner) refers to the hospital, the tests that you are required to undergo and scans like PET, CT and MRI.
Whether you are being treated as an inpatient, day-patient, or outpatient, the charges of the clinic or hospital will be covered by your medical insurance.
#4: Choice of Full Cancer Cover
According to Cancer Research UK, 1 out of every 2 people, born after 1960, are likely to develop cancer in their lifetime. Therefore, it has become essential to keep in mind the unexpected diseases that you may suffer from.
Private medical insurance provides an option for choosing between NHS Cancer Cover Plus, full cancer cover and no cancer cover. The covers include eligible treatment like bone marrow transplant, stem cell transplant, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery.
#5: Various other Services and Facilities
Other than the above-mentioned services, private medical insurance also offers an individual with the following services and facilities:
- Mental Health Cover: According to Mind, every 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem every year. This is why private medical insurance takes mental health into consideration. The cover includes eligible treatment of mental health from a mental health and well-being therapist or a consultant.
- Patient Services Round the Clock: Private medical insurance means that a person gets access to a 24×7 patient helpline that is ready to provide consultations over the call.
- Accommodation for a Parent: Generally, many companies offering private medical insurance cover the charges for one parent’s stay with their child every night. However, the child must be under the age of 16.
- Private Ambulance: The travel charges through private ambulance are also covered. This includes any inpatient or day-patient treatment that you may require.
- Cash Benefit for NHS: Even if you are eligible for private treatment under your benefits, you will get cash benefit for the treatment offered to you free under the NHS.
- Therapies Cover: The major four therapies that are covered by private medical insurance are:
o Physiotherapy
o Osteopathy
o Chiropractic treatment
o Acupuncture
- More Choices: Some insurers also let you choose among the following for your medical cover:
o Optical appointments
o Dental treatment
o Medical nursing and treatment at home
o Treatment for specific diseases
o Psychiatric treatment
o Medical care during pregnancy
o Optician costs
Kinds of Medical Insurance
You can get a private medical insurance policy designed for:
- Yourself
- Your whole family
- A joint policy comprising of you and your partner
- Your child
Conclusion
Private medical insurance would act as a boon in your life since it covers almost every acute illness and injury. Moreover, the treatment you get is faster than the treatment at NHS. The kind of services that the private clinics provide and the things it covers are worth the money.
Furthermore, the premiums for the insurance will not even bite your pocket since the costs of the treatment differ according to the policy you opt for. Well, there should be nothing stopping you from getting a private medical insurance.
