Mental Health
Mental Health Insurance in UK
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Mental Health
Mental health problems are widespread and can have a significant impact on individuals and their loved ones. Conditions like depression, anxiety, self-harm, eating disorders, and addiction can be challenging to cope with. Private health insurance for mental health can provide essential support by covering the costs of therapy, medication, and other treatments, making it easier for individuals to manage their conditions and access the necessary care. It’s important to explore insurance options that cater to your specific needs to ensure comprehensive coverage.
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What can mental health insurance cover?
Private medical insurance covers various mental health issues, including:
- Anxiety disorders like OCD
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Anorexia
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Depression after childbirth
- Misuse of drugs (e.g., drug or alcohol dependency)
It’s crucial to review policy details, including coverage limits, exclusions, and any pre-existing condition clauses, to ensure you understand what is covered under your specific mental health plan.
Does health insurance cover mental health as a standard?
Many providers don’t automatically include mental health or psychiatric care in their standard policies; however, some do offer such coverage. To access mental health benefits, you usually need to add health coverage, which typically comes at an additional cost. The pricing can differ between insurers, but it’s important to note that mental health-added policies tend to be relatively expensive. This is often because many mental health treatments are conducted on an outpatient basis, and the comprehensive coverage can contribute to higher premiums.
Are pre-existing conditions covered?
Private mental health insurance plans provide coverage for unforeseen acute conditions that emerge after policy commencement. If you’ve received treatment or experienced symptoms in the past five years, your policy might not cover a recurrence or related ailment.
Hence, ongoing mental health issues within this timeframe could be excluded and you won’t be able to use mental health care benefits for private treatment.
Coverage might be accessible after an uninterrupted two-year period post-policy commencement, with no medical advice, treatment, medication, or symptoms. However, lasting mental health conditions often disrupt meeting this requirement.
Best health insurance companies for mental health
Most UK insurance providers offer the option to include mental health in their policies. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of some of the main providers when it comes to mental health coverage:
BUPA
Bupa is a well-established insurance provider in the UK that offers comprehensive coverage for mental health issues. Their policies include mental health care, covering both pre-existing conditions and new issues. Bupa’s cover typically includes access to therapy sessions, counselling, and psychiatric treatment. While costs can vary depending on the chosen plan and individual circumstances, Bupa’s reputation for quality coverage does come at a premium.
Advantages:
Cons:
AVIVA
Aviva offers policies with a focus on providing support for mental health conditions. They offer various mental health insurance covers in the UK that cater to different budgets and needs. Aviva’s mental health cover includes access to therapy sessions, online mental health support articles, and psychiatric treatment. They may also cover pre-existing conditions, although terms may vary.
Advantages:
Cons:
- Chemo/radiotherapy
- Genetic testing to match chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Bone-strengthening drugs
- Bone marrow / stem cell transplants
- Bypass GP and go directly
- NHS Cash Benefit- £100 per night up to 35 nights per year if you opt out for NHS treatments
- Cash back for wigs and prostheses
Note. Bupa does not pay charitable donations towards end-of-life / palliative care in a hospice.
- Chemo/radiotherapy/options for home treatment
- Bone-strengthening drugs
- Bone marrow / stem cell transplants
- Preventative treatments
- NHS Cash Benefit-£100 per night up to 28 nights per year if you opt out for NHS treatments
- Up to £500 for wigs and £5000 for prostheses
- Hospice donation
- Monitoring and follow up
Note. Aviva does not pay for harmony therapy unless its medically necessary.
Vitality
Vitality is known for its unique approach, encouraging policyholders to engage in a healthy lifestyle. They offer mental health support as part of their comprehensive insurance policies, covering therapy sessions, counselling, and treatment for mental health problems. The cost of Vitality’s plans can vary based on the level of coverage and the policyholder’s engagement in healthy activities.
Advantages:
Cons:
- Chemo/radiotherapy/options for home treatment
- Hormone therapy
- Scalp cooling to reduce hear loss
- Bone-strengthening drugs
- ● NHS Cash Benefit £125 per night (up to a maximum of £2,000) for inpatients and £125 for day-patient treatments
- Up to £500 for wigs and £5000 for prostheses
- NHS Cash Benefit
- Up to £300 for wigs, up to £200 for mastectomy bras and up to £5,000 for external prostheses
The Exeter
The Exeter offers private medical insurance policies that can be tailored to include mental health cover. They provide access to mental health treatment, including therapy and counselling, as part of their coverage options. The availability and extent of the coverage can depend on the specific plan chosen.
Advantages:
Cons:
AXA
AXA offers a range of medical insurance policies that include mental health coverage. They provide access to therapy sessions, counselling, and treatment for common mental health iconditions. AXA’s mental health support aims to provide comprehensive care for policyholders facing mental health challenges.
Advantages:
Cons:
When considering a medical insurance provider for mental health insurance cover in the UK, it’s essential to review the terms, coverage limits, and costs to find the best fit for individual needs.
- Chemo/radiotherapy/options for home treatment
- Hormone therapy
- Bone-strengthening drugs
- Bone marrow / stem cell transplants
- NHS Cash Benefit-£150 per night up to 30 nights per year if you opt out for NHS treatment
- Monitoring and follow up
- Hospice donation £250
Note. The Exeter does not cover preventative treatment
- Chemo/radiotherapy/options for home treatment
- Genetic testing to match chemotherapy
- Hormone therapy
- Bone-strengthening drugs
- Bone marrow / stem cell transplants
- Hospice donation £100
- NHS Cash Benefit
- Up to £500 for wigs and £5000 for prostheses
Note. Axa will pay for any drags not routinely available with NHS if policy was downgraded
How much is medical insurance that covers mental health?
The cost of insurance that covers mental health can vary widely depending on factors such as the level of coverage, the insurer, the individual’s age, and any pre-existing conditions.
Here’s a rough estimate for the policy with mental health cover added:
| Insurer | Policy Excess | Monthly premium |
|---|---|---|
| Bupa | £100 | £46 |
| AXA | £100 | £44 |
| AVIVA | £100 | £40 |
| Vitality | £100 | £38 |
| The Exeter | £100 | £45 |
It’s important to note that mental health insurance cover in the UK is often included in many standard policies offered by the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK, providing access to mental health services and treatments. Private medical insurance can offer quicker access to specialists and certain treatments, but individuals should carefully compare policies, considering both cost and coverage, before making a decision. So, if you’re planning to buy private medical insurance in the UK, get associated with us today.
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