Though there is public health care in the UK, many people rely on auxiliary private medical treatment. It is not usually a question of quality, but the issue of long wait times for procedures. A heart bypass operation may be diagnosed for and completed in a couple of weeks with private treatment, but through the NHS this could take two or three months. Most people go private for non-emergency specialist appointments and non-urgent treatment. Around a quarter of all operations are performed privately. Scotland is not as affected by terrible wait times as England, but many people still choose private insurance.

Private Healthcare

UK Health Insurance is bought by three groups of people: an individual, group health insurance for companies and family health insurance for families. If you are interested in private insurance, you should take out an insurance policy with a specialist health insurer. Many employers also provide private health insurance as a benefit.

Prices

Some plans can cost as low as 7.50 GBP a month, but this offers only the basest coverage. In general, the more you spend, the better your coverage.

Premiums are charged for private health insurance plans are based on several factors.

These include:
• Your postcode
• Age
• Health Status
• Lifestyle Habits (i.e. smokers, overweight, and people with pre-existing conditions typically pay more for private health insurance)

Many different companies offer different plans. Investigate the terms and compare companies before signing up and request a quote. Compare medical insurance policies with this comparison page.