Health insurance for first-time buyers

More people are choosing to take out private health insurance than ever before. The desire to get treatment as soon as possible and in an environment of your own choosing means that health insurance has become popular across the market. If you’re considering buying a health insurance policy, you’ll need some expert advice.

Health insurance – things to look for

It would be easy to pick the health insurance with the cheapest premium, or the one that has the biggest brand name, but that doesn’t mean that you’re choosing the right insurance policy for you. Health insurance is no different to car insurance – if the premium’s cheap but it doesn’t cover you for the things you need, then the policy’s no good to you. It’s best to look for a balance between cost and cover that you’re happy with:

• Company policies – many companies now offer health insurance as part of their benefits package. In many cases, not only can you get health coverage for yourself, you can add on members of your family such as your spouse or your children. This type of health insurance may be subsidised so that you don’t have to pay the full premium, but you still need to check that the cover works for you before you decide to take it on. Your company should be able to give you a policy summary which shows what’s covered, and what you’re expected to do, so that you can make an informed decision.
• Critical illness insurance – this type of health insurance covers you for specific illnesses, which are specified in the policy. Should you contract or suffer from any of these conditions once the policy is in force, you can make a claim and receive payment for healthcare costs up to a limit. Again, check which conditions are covered and the upper payment limit, along with the other conditions of the policy, before you buy.
• Life cover and income protection – these policies are less about covering your health costs and more about providing an income either for your dependents after you die or for you if you are unable to work. These are worth considering if you want to protect your mortgage payments and provide for a partner or children in the event of a serious illness, injury or death.
• Private medical insurance – for most people, this is what “health insurance” means. This is a policy that allows you to choose private care for a wide range of health issues. You pay a monthly premium and contact the health insurance company when you have something, such as a minor operation, that you want carried out quickly and in a private hospital environment. There are a lot of private medical insurance products on the market, and you need to make sure you do plenty of research and take independent advice to find the right policy for you.

Right to Health is a leading UK health insurance intermediary, helping individuals and corporations find the best private health insurance cover. With access to the UK’s top health insurance companies, Right to Health has advised thousands of clients and can help you to get great health coverage for a competitive premium. Right to Health is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority, which means that you can be confident that the recommendations you are given really are in your best interests. To find out more or to get a review of your current health insurance, call 08000 753 999 or click the Free Online Quote button at the top of the page.

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