Health
Insurance - Cheaper Than You Think
Almost 20% of the population now have some form of private health cover* and many more would prefer to go private if they could afford it.
But
budget-conscious new products are making health insurance more affordable
than you might think.
Worth
the wait?
In a health crisis, you can't fault the NHS but less urgent conditions
can mean a long wait. Mike Giblin, Assistant Managing Director of AIG
Europe (UK) explains:
'The NHS is very good at dealing with urgent and emergency cases, however,
for the thousands of people that have a non-urgent condition, the system
means people have to wait a long time for their treatment. healthnow tackles
this problem and costs a third less than traditional policies. It provides
the priceless benefit of removing the worry of waiting.'
What
should you look for?
A medical insurance policy offering immediate access to a consultant,
whenever you (or a family member) needs it, and private treatment for
common procedures where NHS lists are longest, provides the best of both
worlds.
By
complementing, rather than duplicating, what the NHS provides, you'll
be diagnosed and treated faster, and get back to normal family life as
soon as possible. Plus, doing away with the need for emergency cover keeps
premiums down to an affordable level - why pay for what the NHS delivers
for free?
What
about under-18s?
Childhood ailments are no fun for anyone. Glue ear or tonsil trouble can
mean a long wait for treatment. Your kids might like the idea of extra
time off school, but it's not so enticing when they're feeling grotty.
And don't even think about the problems taking time off to care for a
sick child can cause for working parents. Getting things sorted quickly
is better all round, so look for family-friendly policies which cater
for all family members, whatever their age.
While every effort has been taken to ensure
accuracy at time of publication, this information may be subject to change.
Always consult your financial advisor.
* Laing and Buisson survey 2005
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