Affordable Health Insurance

We all tend to buy affordable health insurance for the same reasons. We want to bypass the NHS waiting lists and receive treatment when we need.

We also recognise how stressful receiving treatment for a condition can be so we want to do our best to minimise external stressors, receiving treatment privately provides you with the privacy and home comforts to make your stay as stress free as possible.

Private health insurance can provide you with round the clock visiting hours for your friends and family, private room with television and internet and a choice of food when you want it.

Finding a low cost health insurance plan is like finding a good deal on any other insurance, it is important to utilise your resources. The internet is a great place to start, when looking for affordable health insurance cover to make sure you consider a range of providers. By asking a number of insurers to quote you can get an idea of what you can expect to be paying for your cover.

One insurance company may well look on you more favourably than another when it comes to considering your risk so by going to a number of insurers you are making sure of a competitive price.

By going to a range of insurers you can also compare the level and range of cover the products provide whilst getting a sneak peak into the service you can expect to receive.

Some illnesses and self-inflicted conditions are not covered by private health plans.

Most insurers will not cover you for illnesses that you already have (pre-existing conditions) or chronic (long term) conditions that cannot be cured.

Given the complexities that can arise when buying health insurance a guide has been written buy the Association of British Insurers (ABI) for the consumer when buying health insurance, ABI - Guide to Health Insurance

Further health insurance information can be found ain the health insurance section of the Financial Services Authority - Money Made Clear site.

As with many insurance products your premiums will be dependant on a number of factors both personal to you and relating to the cover you choose. Personal factors include your age, whether you smoke and your lifestyle.

Although as we age we can expect cheaper car and home insurance we are not as fortunate with health insurance. It will come as no surprise to you that as we age so our likelihood of needing treatment for one ailment or another increases.

Insurers take this into account when quoting and thus the older you are the more expensive your premiums are likely to be.

There is no need to shout about, we all know the health risks associated with smoking, the cigarette packets alone these days give an informative summary.

If you are a smoker in the eyes of the insurer you are higher risk, you are more likely to claim on your policy and thus your premiums will be inflated. Most insurers define a smoker as anybody who has used tobacco products in the past 12 months.

With the insurance market ever evolving more and more products are coming to the market to reward healthy living. If you enjoy regular exercise and lead a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet you can expect to receive a discount on your affordable health insurance premiums for being so good.

Affordable health plans can be used to cover yourself only, yourself and your spouse or a plan for your whole family including treatment for your children.

Healthcare plans range from a cheap basic policy, providing cover for inpatient treatment only to comprehensive health insurance covering all in-patient and out-patient treatment, including alternative medicines and additional benefits such as home nursing and overseas repatriation or treatment.

Like any product or service you tend to get what you pay for, most plans can be grouped into either basic, mid-range or comprehensive.

As the plans become more comprehensive so the level of your outpatient cover increases, outpatient cover includes the likes of consultations and diagnostic tests such as x-rays.

As these are the most common areas to claim on a plan it is the area that most affects your premiums. There is a strong relationship between the level of outpatient cover provided and your monthly premiums.

The cost of an affordable healthcare policy will depend on where you would like treatment.

Insurers tend to offer an option on medical plans to reduce your premiums by restricting the hospitals you can receive treatment in to private wards of NHS Trusts or if living outside of London excluding the London hospitals.

Making your health plan more affordable by choosing the six week waiting period on your healthcare plan.

To find a cheap health policy include the six week wait option, it does mean you agree if the NHS can provide treatment locally within 6 weeks you will use the NHS. However if they cannot, then the your health insurance plan will arrange treatment privately without a waiting time.

If you are an employer looking to provide health insurance to your employees visit our dedicated group health insurance page on our sister site.