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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