Family Health Insurance

Compare Family Health Insurance Policies

Your family’s health and wellbeing are paramount, so if the worst happens and one of your family members needs medical treatment you’re probably going to be very keen to ensure they’re treated as quickly as possible.

Although we’re incredibly lucky to have the NHS in the UK, waiting lists can sometimes be long and slow, which might add to your family’s stress when they need treatment. That’s why millions of people in the UK are making the decision to supplement their family’s NHS care with a family health insurance policy.

Not only can this type of private health insurance policy help your family members avoid long waiting times, but the best policies can also speed up the diagnosis process, give your loved ones access to consultants they might otherwise struggle to see, and give them access to private rooms if they ever need to be admitted to hospital.

Compare family private health insurance policies now

Surely family private health insurance is a waste of money when we have the NHS?

The NHS is a remarkable institution that is highly regarded around the world, and we are very fortunate to have it, but there’s no escaping the fact that NHS waiting times are often long and slow.

Of course, those delays might not bother you too much if you’re the one requiring medical treatment. On the other hand, if it’s your spouse or child that needs a diagnosis, treatment or hospitalisation the long waiting times are likely to make an already stressful situation even more stressful, which is why a family private health insurance policy could prove invaluable.

It’s also worth mentioning that when families choose to “go private” by taking out family health insurance this can play some small part in helping to reduce NHS waiting lists for other patients.

Will my private family health insurance cover emergencies as well?

No, if you or one of your family members is involved in an accident or requires emergency medical treatment for another reason you will need to use an NHS A&E department.

OK, so what IS covered by a family health insurance policy?

The list of policy features in a family health insurance policy can vary quite a bit from one insurance provider to the next, but as a rule of thumb you and your family should be covered for:

• Outpatient treatment for medical conditions that have been diagnosed by a GP or consultant
• Inpatient treatment in a hospital
• Scans after treatment
• Tests after treatment

For the medical condition to be diagnosed privately you will usually need a comprehensive health insurance policy, but if you’re happy for the diagnosis to be handled by the NHS then a regular family health insurance policy (sometimes called a “family treatment and care plan”) should cover each of the points above.

What ISN’T likely to be covered by my family’s health insurance policy?

Again, exclusions will vary from one insurance provider to the next, but in the vast majority of cases your family health insurance won’t cover you for:

• Pre-existing conditions that were diagnosed before you took out insurance
• Chronic conditions like asthma, allergies or diabetes
• Life events like pregnancy, labour or menopause
• Cosmetic treatments like liposuction, abdominoplasty or breast augmentation

As already mentioned, if your family health insurance policy isn’t fully comprehensive then private diagnoses will usually be excluded from coverage as well. 

What age do my children have to be to be covered by my family health insurance plan?

This can vary from provider to provider as well, but in many cases, your child can be covered by your family’s private health insurance up to the age of 21 if they are not in full-time education, and up to the age of 24 if they are in full-time education.

Can my adopted children be covered by our family health insurance as well?

Yes, provided your children are legally adopted the family health insurance policy will treat them in exactly the same way as your biological children. 

Will this private family health insurance extend coverage to my children while they’re at university?

In many cases your policy will still cover your children while they’re attending university, provided they meet the insurance provider’s age requirements (usually 24 or under).

How much does family health insurance cost?

That will depend on a wide range of risk factors, which health insurance providers will factor into their insurance premium calculations. They consider these risk factors to estimate how likely you might be to claim on your family health insurance policy, and how much the insurance claim might be if and when you do claim.

OK, so what are the risk factors that will determine the cost of my family’s private health insurance?

This can also vary from one insurance company to the next (and each provider will also give each risk factor a slightly different weighting in their insurance premium calculations), but as a rule of thumb the cost of your family health insurance will be influenced by:

• Your age, and the age of the family members you’re including on your family health insurance
• The current health of the people being covered
• The lifestyle of the people being covered, including factors like are they smokers or do they consume more than the recommended amount of alcohol
• Your location
• The coverage level you choose
• The insurance excess you choose

How can I find cheaper family health insurance?

First and foremost, shop around by using a site like Quotezone.co.uk to compare family health insurance policies from different providers.

Opting for a higher insurance excess could bring your premium down a little as well, and if you’re happy to opt for a “family treatment and care plan” instead of a fully comprehensive plan that should make your insurance cheaper too.

Beyond that, making lifestyle changes (quitting smoking, and reducing the amount of alcohol you or your family members consume) is a good way to reduce your premium in the longer term.

Compare family private health insurance policies now