How much does private healthcare cost?

In the United Kingdom, almost all residents are entitled to the luxury of free healthcare from the National Health Service (NHS). But, with a lot of pressure on the NHS to cater to the population, issues with long waiting times regularly arise.

That’s where private health insurance comes in, functioning as a reliable safety net for those who find themselves in need of immediate assistance or require additional support that isn’t covered by the NHS.

How much does private health insurance cost on average?

Since health coverage varies significantly from person to person, it’s difficult to provide an accurate estimate of your policy through an average cost. Any increased likelihood of making a claim will elevate the price of your private medical insurance and there are a combination of factors that contribute to this cost impact.

Here are some elements private healthcare providers consider when calculating your annual expense:

• Your age: A key determining factor of your medical insurance expense is your age. As people grow older, they become more susceptible to requiring treatment after getting ill or injured.

• Where you live: The area you live in also affects your private healthcare price. Typically, high-built, urban spaces and cities will cost more than rural areas.

• Lifestyle choices: Some negative or positive aspects of your lifestyle choices — such as smoking cigarettes or vaping, drinking alcohol or following specific exercise habits — will be taken into consideration when evaluating the overall healthcare costs.

• Previous health conditions: Healthcare providers conduct medical background checks to assess how likely you are to claim on your private insurance throughout the year.

• Private health history: If you’ve had a medical insurance policy with another company, new providers will evaluate the regularity of your previous claims.

How can I make my policy more affordable?

To reduce the cost of your quote, there are many ways you can take action to save money, whilst ensuring you’re medically protected.

• Take care of your body

If you smoke and drink frequently, limiting your weekly intake will help to lower your insurance costs. Completely giving up these habits will also contribute to your overall health, decreasing the likelihood of needing to make a claim.

• Tailor your policy

If you’re aiming to reduce the overall cost of your insurance plan, it might be best to work from the bottom up. Many healthcare providers offer basic plans with a vast selection of optional extras to choose from. 

• Pay annually

Making annual payments, as opposed to monthly payments, will often give you a discount that saves you money in the long run. This is highly recommended for those who have the funds to make a single bulk payment.

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What’s covered?

The coverage you’re entitled to depends on the private health insurance provider you choose. It’s important to conduct market research to find a reliable plan that suits your specific needs. At Clear Health, we care about providing real peace of mind. That’s why we include extensive treatment offerings as part of every healthcare plan:

Core coverage

In-patient and day-patient treatment

• Full hospital fees, including operating theatre costs, nursing care, specialist fees, consultations and diagnostic tests.
• CT, MRI and PET scans and physiotherapy from our Directory of Hospitals.

Out-patient treatment

• CT, MRI and PET scans at a scanning centre or hospital from our vast list of trusted establishments.
• Surgery with no yearly limit.

Cover for children

• Hospital accommodation for one parent, while your child is receiving eligible private treatment.
• Surgery to correct prominent ears for a child aged 14 and under.
• Laser treatment to improve the look of a port-wine stain on the face of a child aged 14 and under.
• Six sessions of speech therapy needed for a child aged 14 and under as a result of a delay in their development.
• Free cover on your health insurance plan for newborns until your renewal date (some cover restrictions may apply).

Comprehensive cancer cover

• Diagnostic surgery, CT, MRI and PET scans.
• Specialist consultations with the specialist treating your cancer when you’re an out-patient.
• Chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
• Support from one of our dedicated cancer nurses.
• External prostheses up to £5,000 a year, and wigs and head coverings up to £400 a year when you’re having private medical treatment to kill cancer cells.
• £100-a-night charitable donation to a hospice where you’re being cared for as an in-patient or at home.
• If you’re a member, we’ll cover your cancer no matter what path it takes, and we’ll continue to cover treatment if it becomes terminal.

Extra support

• A nurse to administer antibiotics by intravenous drip at home.
• Ambulance transport to another medical facility if you’re receiving eligible private in-patient or

day-patient treatment.

• A cash payment of £50 a night up to £2,000 a year when you have in-patient treatment free on the NHS that would’ve been covered by the plan.
• Oral surgery for a number of procedures paid in full.

Additional Options

Once you’ve evaluated the core offerings available to you, you can then assess the additional extras to build a comprehensive plan tailored to your specific needs. Here are some of our main options:

Full out-patient 

• No yearly limit on specialist consultations.
• No yearly limit on diagnostic tests or practitioner charges when a specialist refers you, including dieticians, nurses, orthoptists, speech therapists and audiologists.

Therapies 

• Cover for out-patient treatment by physiotherapists, acupuncturists, homoeopaths, osteopaths and chiropractors.
• Ten out-patient sessions with an acupuncturist, homoeopath, osteopath or chiropractor when referred by a GP.
• No yearly limit on follow-up sessions when your specialist refers you and Clear Health agrees to support your appointments.

Mental health

• In-patient or out-patient psychiatric treatment, including accommodation, diagnostic tests and drugs, paid in full at a hospital or day-patient unit in our Directory of Hospitals.
• No yearly limit on specialist fees for psychiatric treatment.
• As an out-patient, no yearly limit on specialist consultations for psychiatric treatment.
• No yearly limit on psychiatric treatment by psychologists and cognitive-behavioural therapists, as long as your specialist oversees treatment.

Dentist and optician cashback

• 80% of dentist fees covered for up to £400 each year.
• 80% of optician expenses covered for prescribed glasses and contact lenses, up to £200 each year.
• £25 a year towards the cost of an eye test.

With many more extras available, check out our full list of treatments to construct the perfect healthcare plan for you and your family.

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What private health insurance doesn’t cover

Unfortunately, the nature of insurance means certain treatments and procedures can’t be supported by private healthcare.

Private health insurance in the U.K. is designed to cover you for non-routine tests and treatment for acute conditions. Therefore many chronic conditions — which are most likely long-term and incurable cases, such as Crohn’s disease, arthritis or asthma — are excluded from private health plans as part of standard practice. In addition, if you experience any other medical conditions at the time of agreeing to a policy, fall pregnant or want cosmetic surgery, these treatments and procedures won’t be covered in your insurance.

Note: If you undergo private tests that lead to the diagnosis of a chronic condition, the initial tests will be covered by your insurance, however, your long-term treatment plan will be handed over to the NHS.

Get a Health Plan That’s Right For You

At Clear Health, we offer a full advisory service, in which our support team is always available to have a chat about your insurance options and work out a plan that suits you.

Contact Clear Health for your private healthcare queries and get valuable advice on comprehensive health insurance from our experts today.