|
Pages (15): « 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 » ... Last »
Posted in Health Insurance - Free Quotes
For many people, the biggest advantage of paying for Private Medical Insurance is being able to avoid long queues on the NHS – but is that the only reason for investing your hard-earned cash in private medical insurance?
The fact is that there are a number of good reasons that more and more companies are offering PMI as one of their most popular job benefits. Here are some of the advantages of paying for private health insurance – plus some drawbacks to watch for and suggestions to make it more affordable.
Avoid the queue – and so much more.
The NHS is notorious for long waiting periods before you can get recommended medical treatment. Private health insurance can allow you to schedule your treatments sooner, and at more convenient times. But there’s more to PMI than just queue-jumping. In addition, when you opt for PMI, you may find that more conditions and treatments will be covered than under the NHS, the treatment facilities are more comfortable (and more private), and the meals in hospital are better. Depending on the company and the cover that you choose, you may even have coverage for alternative health treatments like chiropractors and acupuncture.
And the bad news is…
Private medical insurance is notorious for being expensive. Again, the expense depends upon the cover and the insurance provider that you choose. There are many ways to cut costs, though. From shopping around to taking a higher excess, to choosing to share costs or agreeing to conditions that save the insurance company money, you can take some control over how much you actually pay for private medical insurance. Some policies, for instance, allow you to choose between being covered under NHS or using your PMI for certain conditions.
Taking control of your healthcare costs
One popular option is to agree that you’ll take NHS treatment as long as the queue for treatment is less than a specified number of weeks. If the estimated wait time exceeds the specified waiting period, you can schedule treatment through your PMI instead. Another option is to limit your health care choices to a specified list of providers and/or hospitals. You can even cut your premium by agreeing to be treated in a private NHS room rather than in a private hospital. Your treatment costs to the insurance company are less, so you pay lower premiums.
Cutting costs through group PMI
The most well-known type of group cover is PMI through your employer. Many more employers are offering to pay part of your premium for private health insurance as part of an enticing job benefit package. Getting PMI through your job is one of the easiest ways to slash your premiums. Even when your employer doesn’t cover part of the cost, you can often get a substantial saving on PMI just because you’re a member of a group with bargaining power.
The same principle applies to fraternal organizations and other organizations to which you may belong. Check with any clubs or organizations to find out if they’ve worked out any special premium reduction offers with private health insurers.
Read the small print
No matter what you choose, do be certain to read the fine print of your insurance contract. It will spell out specifically what is covered and what is not covered. Health insurers are not benevolent organizations – they’re in the business to make money, so you can be sure that they’ve stacked the odds in their favor. Common exclusions are for pre-existing conditions or those that are diagnosed within a short waiting period after your initial acceptance.
Posted: May 23rd, 2008 at 12:31 pm
|
 Print This Post
Help others find this article at:
del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Google Technorati
Posted in BUPA Health Insurance - Free Quotes
Private health and care company, Bupa has called on the Government to be more supportive of health at work services by removing the heavy tax penalties that currently apply.
Bupa argues that as the system currently stands, both the employer and employee face tax hits if an employer provides treatment for a member of staff to return to work early after a non-work injury.
Fergus Kee, managing director of Bupa UK Health Insurance, said: "The employee incurs income tax on the benefit and the employer has to pay National Insurance contributions. If that treatment is funded through health insurance, there is a further Insurance Premium Tax charge. So both the company and the receiver of healthcare are penalised."
According to Dame Carol Black’s recent Review of the Health of the Working Population, work is good for most peoples’ long-term health and family’s well-being. As a result, she proposed the measures in attempts to keep people healthy at work, and to help them return to work should they get ill.
According to the review, ill health is costing the country £100billion a year – enough to run the entire NHS. Commenting, Dame Carol Black said: "For most people their work is a key factor in their self-worth, family esteem and identity.
"So if they become sick and are not helped quickly enough, they can all too easily find themselves on a downward spiral into long-term sickness and a life on benefits. This is not only devastating for them, but also for their families. Their children suffer financially, emotionally and it can affect their long-term futures."
According to Bupa Health Insurance, the majority of employers are in favour of Government assisted health at work services, but wary of taxes, Mr Kee said: "Nine out of ten employers tells us they want more from the Government to invest in health at work and over half would invest more if there were more incentives to do so.
"We work with 80 per cent of FTSE 100 companies and thousands of smaller businesses across the country. The current tax treatment of workplace health provision is an obstacle and a strong disincentive. If removed, it would allow more companies to play their part in keeping Britain healthy." he added.
Mr Kee concluded, commenting that: "Investing in workplace health offers a triple win: better health for the individual, better productivity for the employer and increased profitability for UK plc."
Posted: May 21st, 2008 at 4:15 pm
|
Print This Post
Help others find this article at:
del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Google Technorati
Posted in Individual Health Insurance
Health insurance in the UK.
Bit of a weird thing or not?
I mean, there is the NHS you know, a full set of doctors, nurses, hospitals and treatments that you are already paying for through your income tax and National Insurance deductions every month.
Okay yes, it’s creaking at the seams just a little bit, the hospitals are generally not that clean and you run the risk of actually leaving hospital with more and better illnesses or diseases that you went in with - but that’s all part of the fun, come on!
Oh - it isn’t fun? You want to go somewhere where you are not going to be infected with something new and where you aren’t kept awake all night long by the guy or girl on the next bed who doesn’t get out much and is determined to enjoy their stay in hospital by talking to as many people as possible? Sadly, you were low down on his list and he can only fit you in between 12:30 and 4:30 at night!
Ah - okay then - so you’ll want some individual health cover then?
Well, grab yourself a quote because you are spoilt for choice. Individual cover or private health cover as it’s also known is just a click away.
Originally called BUPA in the UK (because they were the first company to offer and heavily market private medical insurance) individual policies have shot up in both what’s covered and how much it costs.
Our premiums are considerably cheaper too because over here, the NHS can bear the brunt of the costs and provisions, leaving the private sector to pick and choose!
So - go online, click away as you search and grab your individual health insurance quote, UK style. Try Google for searching and just enter something like "private health insurance" as your search term.
You could also go to a money comparison site such as Money Supermarket and get them to provide you comparison quotes to look through.
But - a word of warning if I may?
Do be very, very careful what you enter onto the form as you answer their questions for a quote. Do not leave anything out and make sure you disclose all known issues past and present in full detail.
If you give false information - and giving means also ‘forgetting to tell’ - then the health insurance company are more than entitled to refuse to pay your claim and leave you dangling.
So make sure you know all your facts - as well as your families and their medical history - because you don’t want to actually have to have expensive treatment that is withheld from you and you’re referred back to the NHS - and all because you ‘forgot’ to mention that you’d ad this problem before.
When an insurance company take you on - they speak to your doctor and get confirmation of illnesses previously diagnosed as well as details of any previously noted issues. They do this based on what you have told them and the doctor is bound by law to assist and fully disclose all issues. You actually have to sign a permission slip for your future insurer so that they can talk to your doctor.
Why do I mention this - because a huge amount of people are still not disclosing everything - or just plain lying - when they complete their forms and it makes no sense at all.
Don’t do it - the only one who pays eventually - is YOU!
Posted: May 14th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
|
Print This Post
Help others find this article at:
del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Google Technorati
Posted in Cheap Health Insurance
In the UK - there is the NHS - the National Health Service.
The purpose of the NHS is to provide health care and all associated treatments and services to residents of the UK - regardless of whether or not you could actually pay for the treatment yourself.
All very well and noble - but as people live longer, reproduce more and the population both grows and hangs around longer than anticipated - the service starts to creak under the increasing numbers needing care.
This is where private care comes in.
Anyone who wants to can arrange private health cover for themselves and/or their family. It’s created to cover any cost of having the treatment privately. Sort of like an insurance of actually getting the treatment quickly enough!
This relates to any acute illness, with the definition of an acute illness in the UK being something - an injury, sickness or illness that will respond well to treatment.
Having the cover in the UK is more to ensure you can get treated fast - very fast.
It’s important to note however that certain treatments and illnesses wouldn’t be covered. This is common amongst all the policies, regardless of the insurer and not something to worry over that much. Things such as conditions you had prior to taking out the insurance cover, the services of your local GP (covered by your National Insurance payments) or even a visit to the A&E department on a Saturday night. Let’s face it, private health can’t replace all aspects of the NHS and shouldn’t be expected to!
There are three basic levels of cover:
Budget, Standard and Comprehensive.
The budget level would generally cover you for any inpatient treatment you need, the actual staying in the hospital itself in other words. Cost of the treatments, consultations, diagnosis tests etc would not be covered and you’d still need to pay these yourself. Budget level is probably best for those who can afford to pay for the treatments etc but wish to cover the costs of staying in a private hospital where you normally get a room to yourself, TV and a degree of privacy and comfort not normally associated with NHS hospitals.
At the standard level, you’ll probably find that the policy covers things such as operations, outpatient treatments, specialist consultations, diagnostics up to a probable (usual) limit of circa £500 - £2000. Also, if you need some specialist outpatient treatment, treatment that would be supplied by a qualified Osteopath or Acupuncturist for example, you’ll normally find, depending on the insurance company that you’ll be insured up to a specific amount.
Finally, the comprehensive level.
Basically - these level policies cover just about everything - inpatient cover, outpatient cover, scans, travel costs, dental - even expenses incurred during your stay in the hospital. Obviously this is the best level of policy and you should choose it if you can afford it.
There are also a new range of flexible cover modules starting to appear in insurers where you can select cover for specific modules of condition or illness! Worth looking into as you can insure against specifics you think are more likely to occur.
Posted: May 14th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
|
Print This Post
Help others find this article at:
del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Google Technorati
Posted in BUPA Health Insurance - Free Quotes
Bupa Heartbeat health insurance product offers you the choice of five different levels of health insurance cover. These options range from basic cover for in-patient and surgical care, to extensive health plans. You might even find that you’re covered for a pre-existing medical condition.
extensive cover for eligible cancer treatment including out-patient consultations, diagnostic tests and therapies
quality treatment with a choice of consultants and specialists
high standards of care in a choice of up to 400 accredited hospitals#
patient privacy in a clean and comfortable environment, usually with an en-suite room
cover for acute heart and eligible cancer conditions
24 hour Healthline offering medical information and guidance
| Choose the right level of cover for you… |
|
The highest level of cover within the heartbeat range
- extensive cover for eligible in-patient, day-patient and out-patient treatment
- cover for psychiatric treatment
- cover for out-patient complementary medicine
- choice of local or national hospital network access
|
- offers extensive cover for eligible in-patient, day-patient and out-patient treatment
- cover for psychiatric treatment
- choice of local or national hospital network access
|
- offers a high level of cover for eligible in-patient and day-patient treatment
- cover for eligible out-patient treatment (including consultations, diagnostic tests and out-patient therapies) following and related to eligible in-patient or day-patient treatment
- choice of local or national hospital network access
|
- offers a high level of cover for in-patient and day-patient treatment
- cover for eligible out-patient therapies when following and related to eligible in-patient and day-patient treatment. There is no cover for consultations or diagnostic tests unless eligible treatment for cancer
- choice of local or national hospital network access
|
- cover is for acute heart and cancer conditions only
- hospital access is for national hospital network
|
Posted: May 5th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
|
Print This Post
Help others find this article at:
del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Google Technorati
Posted in Health Cash Plans - Free Quotes
If you’re like most people, you’ll rely on the NHS for treatment of any medical conditions or if surgery is required. But when it comes to more routine, everyday healthcare costs though, many of us are paying out of our own pockets. Whether it’s dental appointments or visits to the optician for eye tests and new glasses, the costs can add up to hundreds or sometimes thousands, even for an average family.
Healthcare cash plans can help you and your family to manage the financial burden of these treatment costs that always seem to sneak up on you. For as little as week, you can access up to worth of healthcare benefits, often paid back to you in cash when you pay for covered treatments.
What Are Healthcare Cash Plans?
Never heard of a healthcare cash plan? You’re not alone. According to Paycare, a not-for-profit organization that provides ‘medical cost recoveryans, only about 7 million people in the UK are covered by healthcare plans. Cash plans provide a way for you to budget to meet unexpected or planned treatment costs that aren’t covered by most PMI plans or the NHS. Cash plans usually pay you a specified cash amount when you pay for health and wellness care. For instance, if you wind up in hospital, the cash plan will pay you for £X per night spent in the hospital, depending on the level of benefit that you choose. Healthcare cash plans may also pay out a specified amount to reimburse you when you pay for optical or dental services, or if you turn to an alternative medical provider like an acupuncturist or chiropodist.
How Healthcare Cash Plans Work
The basic premise of healthcare cash plans is simple u pay a set amount per month as a premium, and when you pay for specific health care services, you submit a claim to the cash plan provider for reimbursement. Depending on the specifics of the plan, you may get a specified cash payment or a percentage of the treatment cost as reimbursement.
Generally, you choose a benefit level by deciding on the amount you’ll pay as a premium. Paycare’s benefit plans start as low as 5 monthly and extend to 50 per month for individuals. Under the cheapest plan, you’ll pay out a total of for a year’s worth of benefits. In return, you’ll have access to benefits totaling up to in that year if you need to access all of them. You can recover the cost of the policy alone with one visit to an optometrist and a couple of visits to your local dentist e basic plan will cover up to in optical costs and up to in dental costs annually.
Paycare covers 100% of costs up to a specified limit. At the lowest level, for instance, the optical benefit is If you visit an optometrist for an eye exam and he charges you you can get back from the cash plan when you submit a claim. If you then pay for a pair of prescription specs, you can submit another claim and get e amount of cash benefit left on the plan.
The Bottom Line
Healthcare cash plans are not a full health insurance solution. Rather, a good way to plan ahead for potential treatment costs and extend the range of treatments you can afford. In most cases, if you shop wisely, you can easily recover the amount of your annual premium just by following good common sense advice about eye, dental and other medical checkups.
Posted: April 11th, 2008 at 10:34 am
|
Print This Post
Help others find this article at:
del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Google Technorati
Posted in Cheap Health Insurance
Look at it from an insurers point of view and it’s easy to see why the cost of private medical insurance increases when you reach 50. As you’d expect, older adults are more prone to both illness and injury, therefore the risk of insuring them is higher. On the other hand, it seems a cruel irony that just when you need it the most, the cost of private medical insurance becomes out of reach for many.
However, there are some effective ways to cut the cost of medical insurance and still enjoy a high standard of care. Here are some suggestions from various experts on how to get cheap medical insurance when you’re fifty and over.
1. If you’ve already got medical cover through your company or a private insurer, try to hang on to it.
If you’ve already got PMI, perhaps as a benefit through work, there’s a good chance that you’ve also got the right to continue your cover by picking up the cost yourself. While this may not get you the cheapest premium possible, there is at least one good reason for continuing cover that you already have – treatment of pre-existing conditions. Most insurers will specifically exclude pre-existing conditions from new cover, so if you have an ongoing health issue that is covered under your current PMI, it’s a good idea to hold onto it if you can. Otherwise, you’ll probably have trouble finding a policy that covers all of your health expenses.
2. Shop around for the best premiums with the best cover.
If you’re generally in good health, however, you may find that shopping around will get you a better premium. Check online price comparison web sites to compare policies side by side and make sure that you’re comparing like with like.
3. Plan ahead for the best premium.
If you haven’t reached the magic cutoff age yet (it’s usually 50), think ahead and get PMI now, for the reasons stated in Number 1 above. Many private medical insurers will continue your cover long past age 50 if you’ve got existing cover with them. In fact, a number of companies offer cancel-proof policies if you buy before age 50, along with the promise that they will not turn anyone down. As long as you keep up the payments, your cover will remain in force. Do be certain to check the conditions and exclusions before you decide on one, though. PMI is useless if it doesn’t cover the costs that you’re most likely to need.
4. Pay a higher excess.
Since the level of excess that you pay directly affects the amount an insurer will have to pay out, choosing to pay a higher excess can bring your premiums down considerably. If you’ve got the savings to cover an increased excess, choosing a higher excess can make a very big difference. While it may seem counterproductive to pay for PMI, then have to pay more from your own pocket, the fact is that many Brits grossly underestimate the cost of serious health care. Treatment for serious or long term illnesses can easily run into hundreds of thousands. Being sure you’re covered for such serious and costly conditions can take the sting out of paying the smaller costs of treatment on your own.
5. Supplement with healthcare cash plans.
Save your PMI for the high-cost, serious medical treatments and consider cheaper cash plans for more common, every day treatments like optical and dental care.
Finally, one of the best ways to keep your medical costs low is to stay in good health. Many insurers will take your general lifestyle and attitude toward health into account when assessing the risk of insuring you. If you don’t smoke, stay physically active and maintain a healthy lifestyle, many insurers will reward you with a lower premium.
Posted: April 11th, 2008 at 10:30 am
|
Print This Post
Help others find this article at:
del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Google Technorati
Posted in Health Insurance - Free Quotes
The worst possible time to find out what your health insurance does and doesn’t cover is when you need to claim against the policy. One of the most important parts of choosing a good health insurance policy for you and your family is to ask the right questions to discover which plan fits your needs and budget best.
The following list of topics can help you compile a list of questions to ask your health insurance provider so that you get the right policy at the right price.
1. Your health insurance policy documents
Ask for a copy of your health plan document so that you can read it through. Even if you’re buying your health insurance through a group, such as your employer, you’re entitled to have a copy of the complete policy for yourself. Does it explain how to get services and how to appeal coverage decisions with which you don’t agree? Does it make clear what your financial responsibilities are? Make a list of questions that arise during your reading so that you can ask them of your health insurance provider.
2. Professional providers and expertise
Many health insurance policies limit you to choosing from a pool of hospitals and professional providers. Are there limitations on the professionals from whom you can seek care? Is there a list of providers that you can reference? Are there provisions for using a health care provider that is not on the approved list?
3. What limitations are on your health care providers?
Be sure that your health insurance provider has not placed contractual obligations on your health care providers that may interfere with or influence treatment decisions. Are your providers allowed to discuss all of your treatment options with you, even if they’re not covered on the plan? Do they pay the provider the same amount regardless of the treatment that they prescribe? Does the plan offer rewards to the providers for keeping their costs low?
4. Can you appeal decisions?
Every health insurance company should have a formal appeal and grievance procedure to allow you to complain or request a reconsideration of decisions made about your care. Is the appeals procedure clearly defined? To whom can you complain if you’re not satisfied with a decision, or an appeal? Is there a formal grievance procedure and a way to report plan physicians and providers if you have a complaint about your care?
5. Are your medical records kept confidential?
You have a right to expect your medical records and personal details to be kept confidential. Ask your insurance provider about their confidentiality policy. Will your medical records be shared with anyone without your specific permission? What information from your medical records is provided to the payer? In general, the insurance company has no right to receive anything more than diagnosis, prognosis, length of treatment, type of treatment, and cost.
6. Choice of providers?
How much choice will you have in the providers that you choose? Are your choices restricted in any way? What credentials does your insurer require of professionals associated with the plan, or for payment by the plan? Will your plan cover alternative or complementary treatments if they are prescribed?
7. Who will make treatment decisions?
Who will be involved in making your treatment decisions? If it will be anyone other than your health care provider? Do they have the appropriate training to make medical decisions?
8. Will I be covered for catastrophic illnesses?
Many health insurance policies do not cover the so-called “catastrophic illnesses” like cancer, stroke and heart attack. You may need other insurance cover to insure yourself against those.
Posted: March 7th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
|
Print This Post
Help others find this article at:
del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Google Technorati
Posted in Family Health Insurance - Free Quotes
Despite access to the NHS, there are still many reasons for investing in private health insurance for you and your family.
Perhaps the most powerful reason is that when someone you love needs medical treatment, you don’t want to be hindered by NHS waiting lists and bureaucracy. You may also end up incurring additional expenses by taking time off from work or having to arrange childcare with little notice when your appointment is confirmed.
A good family health insurance policy can put you back in control of your family’s healthcare. With good PMI, your family has access to quality care when it’s needed. With the right policy in place, you’ll be able choose the time and place that’s most convenient for you.
Choosing the right PMI for your family requires some thought and exploration. Among the factors to consider are costs, benefits, coverage and your family’s needs. If you’re looking for quality health insurance for your family, the following advice can help you find the best fit for your needs at the lowest possible cost.
1. Consider how much excess you can pay.
One of the most obvious ways to lower your health insurance premiums is to accept a higher excess amount. Rather than reducing benefits, you can reduce your premium by agreeing to pay more for your share of any medical expenses. If you can afford to pay the first of necessary care for your family, it can lower your premiums by as much as a year. Consider your family’s overall health when deciding on how much excess you can afford.
Most policies count your excess per person in your family. That means that if your son breaks his leg, you’ll pay the first , and insurance will cover the rest. If your daughter trips and falls downstairs a few weeks later, you’ll pay another for her care.
2. Consider your family’s needs.
Limiting options is another way to cut the cost of health insurance. Some companies offer plans that allow you to build a custom plan that’s affordable for you. For instance, why pay for maternity cover if you don’t plan on having more children? If your family is generally healthy, you can also opt for cover for accidents and emergencies, but choose to pay out of pocket for other treatments.
3. Limit your options.
Limiting certain options and treatments can also reduce your costs. Many insurers offer a “restricted hospitaltion that is less expensive than typical PMI. By agreeing to use the hospital specified by the plan, you’ll save the company money d they’ll pass the savings to you.
4. Combining PMI with NHS care can save you money.
One unique plan offered by Norwich Union pays you if you choose to use the NHS. When you choose NU’s Fair+Square plan, you have the choice of getting eligible treatment on the NHS. If you do, you’ll be paid for your first night in hospital and for subsequent nights up to a maximum per annum.
Another option is the “six weekan which enables you to agree to take treatment on the NHS if you can get it within six weeks. If you can’t, then your private health insurance will kick in. Choosing the six week option can cut your premiums in half.
To find out more about UK health insurance companies that offer comprehensive benefits and value for money visit http://www.uk-insurance-index.co.uk/health-insurance-1.html
Posted: March 7th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
|
Print This Post
Help others find this article at:
del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Google Technorati
Posted in Health Insurance Company UK - Free Quotes
In order to find a specialist health insurance company in the UK you can either go direct to mainstrean health insurance companies such as BUPA, AXA PPP Healthcare, Standard Life, Norwich Union, WPA, BCWA or Secure Health to name a few. These are specialist healthcare providers and they can provide you directly with a suitable quote to suit your requirements. You can also go to UK banks that also offer their customers health insurance policies.
Alternatively you can request the help of an independent health isurance specialist who will search the market on your behalf to find the best deal available in relation to cost and cover. In the majority of cases this service is free of charge and without obligation. For further information or a quote please visit www.privatehealthservice.co.uk
Posted: February 27th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
|
Print This Post
Help others find this article at:
del.icio.us Digg Furl Reddit Google Technorati
Pages (15): « 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 » ... Last »
|
