Private health insurance is a vital part of any personal protection plan, and this does not change with age. Senior health insurance is available to anyone under the age of 75. The policy can continue past 75 years of age provided it was taken out before you turned 75.
Key features
- Avoid NHS waiting lists and receive treatment in private hospital wards.
- Cover always includes treatments, consultations and tests that require an overnight stay in hospital.
- Comprehensive plans also provide cover for treatments, consultations and tests for conditions that do not require an overnight stay in hospital.
- Policies can also cover physiotherapy, home nursing, private ambulance, alternative medicines and psychiatric treatment.
- Options to reduce premiums include a six-week wait option and the implementation of an excess (please see below for details).
- We compare over 35 policies from the UK’s leading health insurers to ensure that you get the cover that is right for your needs.
Why consider elderly health insurance?
As we grow older we start to notice far more niggles that we once did. Many of the health issues faced by senior citizens do not always need urgent medical treatment (such as issues with hips, knees and other joints).
This means that we are often faced with very long NHS waiting lists. Senior health insurance is designed to provide a means of fast treatment in private hospitals when you need it most. Most policies even provide you with the comfort of your own room.
Types of senior health insurance plans
Basic
This type of plan aims to cover essential treatments at an affordable rate. Treatments, consultations and tests for conditions that require an overnight stay in hospital are covered in full. This means that when a serious health issue arises we can receive the prompt healthcare we need.
Comprehensive
In addition to full cover for aliments that require an overnight stay in hospital, comprehensive elderly health insurance also provides a level of cover for treatments, consultations and tests where an overnight hospital stay is not necessary.
Comprehensive policies are also far more likely to offer the services of a private ambulance and home nursing, should it be required. Comprehensive plans are also more likely to offer a greater level of physiotherapy treatment relative to basic plans.
Mid Range
Naturally, the level and range of coverage offered by each policy can vary markedly. For example, some basic plans will provide full cover for home nursing whereas other will provide no cover at all.
As a result, there a large number of plans that are positioned right in the middle between basic and comprehensive. This means that you can select a plan that suits your specific requirements and priorities.
Options to reduce your senior health insurance premiums
We all want the best cover available but sometimes the pennies only stretch so far. Whether you are looking for a basic plan to cover the essentials for a full cover comprehensive plan there are options available to reduce the premiums charged on your elderly health insurance plan.
Six week wait option
By implementing this option you agree to have treatment on the NHS if the waiting list is less than 6 weeks long. If the waiting list is longer than six weeks then treatment in a private hospital will be promptly arranged. This means that you will receive your treatment within 6 weeks, whether that is with the NHS or privately.
Excess
By implementing an excess you agree to pay part of the initial costs of treatment. Excesses are commonly set at £100 or £250 but can also be up to £1,000, if so wished.
Naturally, the higher the excess you set the lower your monthly premiums will become. It is worth noting that the excess for most policies is on a per policy year basis, which means that if you need to seek medical treatment the excess is only applicable once per year.
Next steps
Given the choice of cover available and the different options that can be included it is important to select a senior health insurance policy that is right for you. For example, you may not be concerned about having a private ambulance but definitely want some level of physiotherapy treatment included.
As health insurance brokers we look through the coverage and rates offered from over 35 plans by over 10 of the UK’s leading health insurers, including BUPA, AXA PPP and PruHealth. Whatever your policy requirements we will ensure that you get the most appropriate plan for you at the most competitive rates. Please contact us for any assistance.
Further information regarding elderly health care can be found at site AgeConcern.
