Though there is public health care in the UK, many people rely on auxiliary private medical treatment. It is not usually a question of quality, but the issue of long wait times for procedures. A heart bypass operation may be diagnosed for and completed in a couple of weeks with private treatment, but through the NHS this could take two or three months.

Many people go private for non-emergency specialist appointments and non-urgent treatment. Around a quarter of all operations are performed privately. London is not as affected by terrible wait times as the rest of the country, but many people still choose private insurance.

Private Healthcare

UK Health Insurance is bought by three groups of people: an individual, group health insurance for companies and family health insurance for families. If you are interested in private insurance, you should take out an insurance policy with a specialist health insurer. Many employers also provide private health insurance as a benefit.

The NHS will pay for treatment in a private setting if the hospital meets the cost and service criteria that NHS hospitals adhere to. Otherwise opting for a private hospital makes the patient liable for private hospital fees. Because the private sector often has higher costs, most people choose to be treated for free in an NHS hospital.

A large private insurance will provide a full range of services. You will find cover for sickness, doctors, specialists, pregnancy, children, care home, dentist, hospital, fitness… But always remember that to be refund of money, doctors or cure must be approved by your insurance. You should call them before you pay all fees (hospital and specialist are consultants subject of agreements) but usually your GP will remember to prescribe you a treatment/specialist accepted by your insurance.

Which Private Insurance

• Multiple cover:
  Provides a cover for hospital fees, specialists, drugs, dental fees, opticians and pregnancy. They are the most expensive and not very common.
• Hospital and Specialists:
  It covers the bigger risks, where hospital care and/or specialist is required. The name specialist doesn't mean neither optician nor dental surgery. Any fee must be approved beforehand by the GP and the medical insurance to be covered by the private company.

Prices

Some plans can cost as low as £8 a month, but this offers only the basest coverage. In general, the more you spend, the better your coverage and most plans are between £30-£100 for a single person.

Premiums are charged for private health insurance plans are based on several factors.

These include:
• Your postcode
• Age
• Health Status
• Lifestyle Habits (i.e. smokers, overweight, and people with pre-existing conditions typically pay more for private health insurance)

Many different companies offer different plans. Investigate the terms and compare private insurance companies before signing up and request a quote.

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