Private Health Care For Children
Many people aren’t aware that private health insurance is available for children as well as adults. Health cover for young ones is a great way of providing peace of mind for your family that your child’s health is covered, should they become unwell or injured.
But what are the benefits of a child health insurance policy and how much does it cost?
In this guide, we’ll take you through the most common questions regarding private healthcare for kids and what to look for when comparing insurers.
Does My Child Need Private Health Insurance?
You may be wondering whether child health insurance is necessary. People choose child health cover in order to have peace of mind over their child’s health.
A medical insurance policy covers children under 18 for a range of treatments and enables you to seek quicker diagnoses and treatments than you would be able to on the NHS.
There are numerous benefits to a child health insurance policy, but one of the main benefits is that you can bypass lengthy NHS waiting lists for a quicker diagnosis and treatment.
It also enables your child to receive their treatment at a private hospital of your choice and at a time that suits your lifestyle. Staying in hospital is daunting and stressful for anyone, but especially for a child.
The ability to stay in a private room with specialist care and attention makes the process easier to deal with and unrestricted visiting hours means that family can visit your child whenever they want to.
Naturally, your child is entitled to treatment on the NHS, but you may find that they are subjected to long waiting lists and may not receive as personalised a service as they would from a private hospital.
What Is Covered In A Child Health Insurance Policy?
Health insurance policies typically cover acute conditions, or conditions which can be treated. The conditions and services covered will vary depending on the policy and provider you choose, but in most cases common problems such as ear or respiratory conditions, appendicitis, tonsil removal and fevers and flus will be covered.
Similarly, skin conditions such as eczema and allergies, chickenpox and colic in babies are likely to be covered by a child health insurance policy. Some providers may also allow you to tailor your child’s policy with additions such as dental care, eye care, physiotherapy or mental health support.
How Much Is Health Insurance For Children?
While you can’t put a price on your child’s health, you may be worried that insurance will be too costly.
But you might be surprised that private health insurance is generally cheaper the younger you are and for a child it can actually be quite affordable. Age isn’t the only thing that affects premiums though.
The type of policy you choose can also impact how expensive it is, as the more comprehensive the policy, the pricier it will be.
Your location also matters – regions such as the North West, South East and London are typically more expensive that other areas of the UK, so if you live in a higher cost area, your insurance will follow suit.
As an example, a child health policy in the North East costs an average of £929 while in the South East it can cost £1705. It’s a good idea to compare quotes thoroughly and check what is included with each provider’s policy, so you know
exactly what you’re paying for.
What Should I Look For In Child Health Insurance Cover?
It’s important to choose a health insurance provider that is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority – they have strict guidelines to ensure that insurance providers deliver high quality policies to protect customers.
But there are other factors to look for when comparing insurance companies as well, such as the level of cover you’ll receive and whether the policy is affordable for your budget.
The level of cover is the first thing to check when comparing policies. For affordable child health insurance, you may want to opt for a basic level of cover for your child – mid-point policies cover full inpatient and day patient treatment, while comprehensive cover is the most expensive form of policy but offers the highest level of cover.
A health insurance comparison site can make the process of narrowing down your search easier, so you can ensure the policy you choose is best suited to your needs.
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Policy Underwriting
The type of underwriting you can choose from will also affect the policy and cost. There are two main types of underwriting available:
Moratorium - Moratorium underwriting means that your child will not be covered for any illnesses they have suffered from in the past five years, but they will be covered after a two-year period of being symptom free. It also means that you don’t need to disclose any medical history.
Full Medical Underwriting - With a full medical underwriting policy, you do need to disclose the full medical history on the application and the insurance company may exclude cover for pre-existing conditions, but you’ll be told what is and isn’t covered before purchasing.
If you need an affordable solution, you may want to seek out discount schemes which are sometimes available for child health insurance policies.
This can be in the form of increasing your excess on the policy, six-week wait options or reduced hospital cover. Alternatively, if you are looking for cover for yourself as well as your children then a family health insurance policy may be a better option for you and your child instead.
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