Private Health Insurance for Children

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Private Health Insurance for Children in the UK

In a world where time is of the essence, private insurance for children in the UK offers an alternative to the NHS’s long waiting list for treatments and services. Parents can skip the queue, ensuring their kids have prompt access to specialist consultations, diagnostic tests, and private hospital care, providing peace of mind that their child will receive personalised care tailored to their specific needs.

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How it works

Step 1. Answer a few simple questions

Step 2. Get tailored quote

Step 3. Get covered and start saving

Why Choose Us

We offer completely free and no obligation advice on Private Health Insurance. Our experienced advisors will take the stress away from you and do all the hard work in finding you the best provider by comparing quotes with the leading providers in the market. We work directly with AXA, Aviva, Bupa and Vitality for over 40 years; we have been tailor making the best policies for our customers.

24/7 Customer Care

You can contact us anytime, and one of our health insurance consultants will always be available to answer your questions.

Claims Support

We will be there for you throughout the claims process to ensure that it is easy and stress-free.

What is private insurance for children?

When you buy private health insurance for children in the UK, it is designed to cover private medical treatments and services, including when your child becomes ill and when you need it most.

While insurance policies can vary among providers, the main benefits are:

  • Private hospitals with shorter waiting times
  • Access to specialist treatments not available on the NHS
  • Access to the latest approved cancer drugs
  • Choice of doctors and healthcare providers
  • Greater flexibility and convenience for appointments and treatments
  • Peace of mind knowing your child’s healthcare needs are covered
  • Accommodation for parents while their child receives treatment.
  • Accommodation for parents while their child receives treatment.

What child health insurance policies are available?

Child health insurance policy in the UK covers a range of healthcare expenses for kids. It usually covers individuals under 18, or potentially up to 24 if they are in full-time education. These policies typically offer coverage for

In/Day patient treatments only

This will cover your child’s treatment in the hospital. Outpatient treatments, diagnostics and tests will be excluded.

Comprehensive Cover

Covers outpatient and in/day-patient treatments, consultations with specialists, diagnostics and tests.

Cashback

Some policies may offer child health cash plans that provide cashback for routine healthcare expenses.

It’s important to note that child health insurance coverage is a complex product, with limited options available in the market. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider the policy details and compare available options to ensure the best coverage for your child’s healthcare needs.

Stuart Hendy

Our expert says…

Ensure your child receives prompt medical attention with a cost-effective child health insurance plan. With current NHS waiting times on the rise, health insurance for minors offers shorter waiting times for consultations, tests, and treatments, providing peace of mind for you and your family. “

 Stuart Hendy, PMI expert

How will my child benefit from having private healthcare?

Having private healthcare for your child in the UK can provide several potential benefits. Here are a few examples:

Quick specialist care

With a private child medical insurance policy, your child may be able to see a specialist more quickly than with the NHS. This could lead to faster diagnosis and treatment of health conditions.

More options for treatment:

It often offers a wider range of treatment options and access to newer technologies and drugs that may not be available through the NHS.

Greater convenience

Private healthcare can offer more flexible appointment times and locations that can work around your family’s schedule.

Increased privacy

Private healthcare can provide a more private and comfortable environment for your child’s healthcare needs, such as a private room.

However, it’s important to note that private healthcare can be costly and may not be necessary or appropriate for every child or family. It’s important to consider your child’s individual health needs and weigh the potential benefits against the cost and availability of public healthcare options.

What is typically covered with child health insurance?

Child health insurance typically covers a range of healthcare services and treatments for individuals under the age of 18. Here are some common areas of coverage:

  • Consultations and treatment by a specialist or consultant
  • Diagnostic tests and imaging scans
  • Hospital stays and surgeries
  • Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
  • Mental health support and counselling
  • Prescription medications
  • Nursing care and at-home healthcare
  • Dental and optical care

Different insurance providers may offer different levels of coverage, so it’s important to carefully review the policy details before purchasing child private medical care. Child access to private healthcare services may also be covered, allowing parents to be treated faster in the hospital of their choice.

What Is Not Covered By Сhild Medical Insurance? 

It’s very important to carefully review the cover documents and exclusions before purchasing any health insurance. This will help you understand if there are any limits or restrictions on coverage and any exclusions or waiting periods that may apply. Here are some examples of what child health insurance may not cover:

  • Pre-existing medical conditions
  • Cosmetic treatments or elective procedures
  • Experimental or unproven treatments
  • Certain types of mental health conditions or therapies
  • Long-term care or chronic conditions
  • Some dental and optical treatments
  • Organ transplant and related treatments
  • Kidney dialysis and related treatments
  • Certain genetic conditions and related treatments

How much does children’s private health insurance cost?

The cost of children’s private health insurance in the UK can be influenced by several factors, including:

  • The level of coverage: The more comprehensive the cover, the higher the cost of the policy.
  • The age of the child: Younger children generally have lower premiums than older ones.
  • The insurance provider: Different insurance providers may have different pricing structures based on their underwriting policies, risk assessments, and other factors.
  • Pre-existing medical conditions: Policies with pre-existing medical conditions may have higher premiums or exclusions on their coverage.
  • Policy limits: Some policies may have limits on coverage amounts or specific treatments or conditions that are covered, which can affect the cost.

Premier PMI health insurance advisors note that the average cost for private insurance for children in the UK, specifically for a child-only policy, ranges from £20 to £50 per month. This cost, however, can fluctuate based on the chosen coverage level and the child’s specific needs. Family health insurance plans that cover parents and children can also be more cost-effective than individual policies. Below is the comparison from Aviva, Axa, and Bupa insurance companies:

These Prices Are Based On A Healthy 7 Years Old Child

InsurerInsurer
Aviva Health£23
AXA Health£21
Bupa Health£24
with HA1 postcode, mid-range policy cover and £100 excess

If You Have Child Health Insurance, Can They Still Access the NHS?

Yes, having child health insurance does not exclude children from accessing the NHS in the UK. The NHS provides healthcare services to all residents, including those with private health insurance. If a child has health insurance, they can still receive medical care and treatment through the NHS, such as visiting doctors, hospitals, and clinics, just like any other resident. Private insurance can offer additional benefits, but it does not replace the availability of NHS services for those who are insured.

Child health insurance can complement the NHS by providing access to quicker appointments, specialised treatments, or private facilities. However, the NHS remains the primary healthcare provider for all residents, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their insurance status, can access necessary medical care without being excluded or restricted from utilizing NHS services.

What to consider when looking for a child health insurance quote?

When looking for a child’s private health insurance quotes in the UK, there are several important factors to consider. Here are some things to look for:

Underwriting Type

In the UK, insurance companies use different types of underwriting methods that insurance companies use for child health insurance policies. These methods determine how the insurer will assess the risk of insuring a child and calculate the premiums accordingly. Some common types of underwriting methods are:

Full medical underwriting

Full medical underwriting requires insurers to assess a child’s medical history to determine the level of risk associated with insuring them for a policy.

Moratorium underwriting

Moratorium underwriting defers cover for pre-existing conditions for a set time, after which the condition may be covered if the child has been symptom-free.

CPME underwriting

Continued Personal Medical Exclusions (CPME) underwriting allows insurance companies to exclude coverage for specific medical conditions or treatments previously received or likely required in future.

Self-employed people may also consider a cash plan, which provides cash back for everyday healthcare costs like dental checkups, eye exams, and physiotherapy. Another option is a serious illness policy, which pays out a lump sum if you are diagnosed with a serious illness like cancer, heart attack, or stroke.

Level of Cover  

When selecting a level of cover for child health insurance, options include basic, mid-range, and comprehensive policies. It’s important to consider if outpatient treatment costs are covered, as this can affect premiums and overall affordability. Opting for a policy with exclusions or limitations on outpatient treatment can lead to cheaper private health insurance. It’s important to carefully consider the potential impact on coverage and out-of-pocket expenses in case outpatient treatment is needed.

Discount Scheme

A discount scheme for child health insurance can provide cost savings for families by offering reduced premiums or other incentives such as cashback when an insurer pays a certain amount of cash or discounts on other products. This can make it more affordable for families to provide essential health coverage for their children.

  • Consider 6 week-option
  • Choose a policy with co-payments
  • Opt for a more limited level of coverage.
  • Increase your excess
  • Use a broker

Using a broker for your child’s private health insurance in the UK, such as PremierPMI, can provide access to expert health advice and save time researching policies. They can help to find the best deals and provide tailored recommendations to suit your family’s needs, ensuring you get the most comprehensive coverage for your child.

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FAQs

It depends on the underwriting type used. Full medical underwriting may require a medical check, but moratorium or CPME underwriting may not.

It depends on the insurer’s policy. Some policies may require the child to live with the policyholder, while others may allow coverage for minors living away from home, such as at university or with a grandparent.

The maximum age limit for children covered by a health insurance policy in the UK varies by insurer and policy, but it’s typically up to the age of 18. Some policies may allow coverage for kids up to the age of 21 or 25 if they are in full-time education.

To compare child health insurance quotes in the UK, start by identifying your family’s healthcare needs and budget. Then, use a comparison website or work with a broker to gather quotes from multiple insurers. Review the coverage, premiums, excess, and other details of each policy before making a decision.

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