What kind of treatments can a healthcare plan cover?
With cover available to suit a variety of needs and budgets, the treatments covered will depend on the type of plan you choose and the individual provider. Basic types of health insurance might just cover a single item, such as dental insurance, whilst health cash plans will usually provide cover for a broader range of treatments and services and are designed to help people look after their everyday healthcare needs. For example, health cash plans can provide money back towards dental check-ups and treatment; eye tests, glasses and contact lenses; chiropody; physiotherapy and more. They can also pay out cash lump sums if you have a baby and provide fast access to services such as MRI, CT and PET scanning, and counselling. If surgical cover is required, our own Hospital Treatment Insurance allows people to avoid potentially lengthy NHS waiting lists by accessing private medical treatment and surgery quickly. This insurance covers most surgical procedures except treatment for cancer and heart conditions (which the NHS priorities). Private Medical Insurance is the most comprehensive and expensive type of cover and will cover acute conditions such as heart and cancer.
What should I investigate before choosing a health care plan?
Have a think about what type of cover you want. Do you just want to be able to claim your money back for everyday items such as dental check-ups or a new pair of glasses? Do you want fast access to private surgery if you need it? Or do you want both? Once you’ve decided, you then choose how much cover you want. For example, you could choose Health cash plan level of cover that gave you back around £50 a year towards dental treatment, or a higher level that could reimburse you maybe £300. With surgical procedures, would you just want cover for routine operations such as for a slipped disc or tonsillectomy, or would you want a comprehensive cover that included heart and cancer? There’s a lot of choices and although it might seem complicated, providers work hard to make it as simple as possible for you. So have a look at providers’ websites to see the different types of cover they offer, and you might also want to ask family and friends for recommendations.
See also: The Benefits of Private Healthcare
What factors could contribute to me not being able to get a health care plan?
Depending on the type of cover you choose, you could be affected by pre-existing medical conditions, your age, location and if you’re a professional sports person. Check the Policy Summary for high-level details, and refer to the Terms and Conditions if you need more in-depth information.
With routine healthcare no longer available on the NHS, why might someone choose a health plan?
Knowing you can access private treatment and quickly if you need it, is very re-assuring. You can access diagnostics promptly, avoid the stress of waiting for surgery and get on the road to recovery as soon as possible with post-operative care.
Will I be covered for pre-existing conditions?
Health cash plans are designed to cover new medical conditions, so may not cover any pre-existing medical conditions you may have unless you haven’t had any symptoms, treatment or advice for a predefined period of time. For example, if you have an ongoing problem with your back, therapy treatments such as physio and osteopathy probably won’t be covered. Our own consumer health cash plan does cover your optical and dental pre-existing medical conditions though, and it’s worth checking with other providers if they do the same.
With Hospital Treatment Insurance and Private Medical Insurance, it’s also unlikely you’ll be covered for any pre-existing medical conditions until you haven’t had any symptoms, treatment or advice for a predefined period of time. Check the individual policy details for more information.
Are there normally limits on the amount paid by the insurer for certain types of treatment?
It depends on the type of plan you choose. Health cash plans usually cover you up to set limits, and these are defined by the level of cover you choose. Hospital Treatment Insurance can cover you for up to 3 surgical procedures per year and up to a maximum of £250,000 during the lifetime of cover. With Private Medical Insurance, it depends on the cover you choose and the provider.
Westfield Health is a leading provider of corporate health insurance. Since 1919 they have been at the forefront of keeping people fit and healthy.
If you’d like more information on Healthcare Plans take a look at Celebrity Angels website.
