How to slash the cost of private health insurance

By Rebecca | Edited by Johanna Updated October 2015

Health insurance should be seen as a luxury, not a necessity, as the NHS provides comprehensive medical treatment to anyone who needs it, regardless of their ability to pay.

However, if you do decide to get cover, there are ways to keep the cost down and still get a good policy. This guide explains how health insurance works, how to buy it and what to watch out for.

What is health insurance and what's included?

Health insurance, also known as private medical insurance, covers the cost of private medical treatment for acute medical conditions – diseases, illnesses or injuries likely to respond quickly to treatment.

There are lots of different plans to choose from and while basic policies cover essential treatments while more comprehensive policies may include specialist therapies and complementary medicines such as acupuncture or chiropody. To sum up:

You pay a monthly sum to the insurer and it pays out for your essential treatments such as hospital care and surgery.

It's also possible with some, for example, you can choose the hospital you go to while with others certain treatments will be included, so it's important to make sure that if you're buying a policy it's the right one for you.

What is typically included under a health insurance policy?

What is covered under a health insurance policy will largely depend on its terms and conditions but there are some features which are commonly included.

Tests as an inpatient or day patient