NoWe have you covered with our Best private medical insurance policies, so you can get access to healthcare when you need it most.
What is Private Medical Insurance?
Private medical insurance (PMI, sometimes known as health insurance) is designed to give you the peace of mind that allows you to be the absolute Best you that you can be. How does it do that, you might ask? Well, by covering your private healthcare costs so you don’t have to, it ensures that you’re seeing the Best, the quickest, and the most convenient medical care for you without leaving you worried over how you’re going to pay for it.
Say, for example, that you’d gotten sick and were concerned about how long your symptoms were lasting. If you were trying to get seen on the NHS, you might be waiting for a really long time; weeks, if not months. By that time, it’s possible that your symptoms would’ve subsided – but it’s equally possible that they would’ve gotten worse. But if you had a private medical insurance policy, you wouldn’t have to worry about that, because you could’ve made the appointment and been seen on that very same day.
Why Private Medical Insurance?
Even though we might prefer it if life was simple and easy, without inconvenience, the unfortunate fact of the matter is that it’s only human to fall sick or suffer an injury. According to a report published by NHS England, over 5,000 people were hospitalised with the flu in late 2022, increasing by almost 2,000 in just a week. And that’s just the flu; across the UK, about 6 million people were hospitalised for one reason or another in that same year.
But even if you didn’t wind up in hospital, you probably visited a GP, right? Maybe you caught a nasty infection and wanted antibiotics, or maybe you wanted to be referred to a specialist, or maybe you just wanted a jab. And when you went, you probably experienced some of the maddening waiting times that are just all over the news at the moment. Nearly 1 in 5 people are having to attend four or more GP appointments before getting a referral, and 92% of appointments require waits of up to 46.2 weeks!
So what’s the solution? For now, at least, we here at Best think it’s time we take the pressure off the NHS as a country, which means it’s time to give private healthcare a try. That might sound scary at first – because really, who wants to shell out hundreds of pounds when they need to be seen by a specialist? – but that’s what private medical insurance is for!
Benefits of Our Insurance
Faster Access to Healthcare
- Skip long NHS waiting times and access quicker GP consultations and specialist referrals.
- Get diagnoses, treatments, and surgeries without unnecessary delays.
Broader Range of Treatments and Services
- Access advanced drugs, therapies, and treatments not always available through the NHS.
- Benefit from virtual GP services, specialist consultations, and modern healthcare facilities.
Peace of Mind and Financial Support
- Focus on recovery and well-being without worrying about expensive medical bills.
- Secure comprehensive healthcare coverage that protects you in times of need.
Secure Your Coverage in Minutes!
Claim Your Insurance
To file an income protection insurance claim, contact your claim administrator immediately using the details in your policy. They’ll guide you through the process, including forms and required documents. Claims typically take around 30 days; if delayed, follow up with your insurer. For excessive delays or unfair denials, escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Speak to a specialist
- 0330 330 9465
- 9 AM to 5 PM
- Monday to Friday
How does income protection insurance work?
Income protection insurance works like any other benefit policy. After purchasing it online or through a broker, you’ll pay a monthly premium to keep your cover active. Once set up, there’s an Initial Exclusion Period (IEP), usually around 120 days, during which you can’t claim for unemployment. After that, you’re covered for accidents, sicknesses, or job loss.
If you need to claim, contact your claim administrator right away. You’ll need to provide evidence — like medical records for illness/injuries or employer documents for unemployment. Once approved, you’ll receive monthly payments until you’re back at work or find a new job. If your benefit period ends before then, you’ll need savings or another plan in place, which is why opting for a longer benefit period can be worth the extra cost
How much does income protection insurance cost?
Several factors can affect how much your income protection insurance costs, including:
- Your age (with higher premiums for older policyholders)
- Your job (for example, someone who works in a high-risk job like construction would pay more than someone who works a job that’s comparatively lower-risk)
- Your salary (this affects how much money you could claim a month, which affects what you have to pay to keep your cover)
- Your health (you might pay more if you smoke, for example, and pre-existing conditions will always be excluded)
- Your lifestyle (if you go skydiving on your weekends, for example, you’ll probably pay more than someone who doesn’t)
- The length of your excess period (with shorter excess periods costing more and longer ones costing less)
If you want an accurate estimate for what an income protection policy tailored to you might cost, it’s worth contacting a broker directly. You can give Best Insurance a call on 0330 330 9465 to get a quote today!
Comparisons
| Private Medical Insurance | Life insurance | Accident & Sickness Insurance | Unemployment Protection Insurance | |
| Payout (lump sum or monthly) | No | Lump sum | Up to 65% of your usual monthly income | Up to 65% of your usual monthly income |
| Private medical fees coverage | Yes | No | No | No |
| Dental treatment coverage | Optional Add-on | No | No | No |
| Terminal illness cover | Sometimes (depends on policy, treatment, and severity) | Yes | No | No |
| Mental health cover | Yes (depending on the policy) | N/A | Requires evidence of psychiatric support | Requires evidence of psychiatric support |
| Age limit | 18-70 | 18+ | 18-65 | 18-65 |
| Flexible cover length | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Video GP appointments | Yes | No | No | No |
| Covers unemployment or redundancy | No | No | No | No |
Frequently Asked Questions
Your income protection insurance policy covers your income if you’re too sick or injured to work or if you’ve been made involuntarily unemployed. You agree on an amount you’d like to be paid if this happens — called a ‘benefit’ or ‘benefit amount’ — and if you find yourself unable to work, you make a claim. Your benefit will cover whatever you need it to cover, whether that’s your mortgage payments, your rent, your bills, or even your groceries.
If you successfully make a claim on your income protection insurance policy, you’ll be paid out the benefit amount you selected when you first purchased cover. This will usually be up to either 65% of your income or £2,500.
Yes, income protection insurance is worth the investment, even if you are in the UK. With an income protection insurance policy in your back pocket, you won’t have to rely on your savings, state benefits like Universal Credit (which often aren’t enough to live off of for long), or handouts from loved ones to keep your head above water in the event that you couldn’t work. Think of it like paying into your rainy-day fund; one day, you’ll need it.
What is private medical insurance?
Sometimes referred to as ‘private health insurance’ or just ‘health insurance’, private medical insurance is a type of coverage designed to minimise your private healthcare costs. While the NHS is a great option for a lot of people, more and more Brits are turning to private healthcare every year for many reasons. With private medical insurance, the costs that are part and parcel of private medical treatment are reduced to something much more manageable; your insurer will foot the bill for your treatment and you’ll get the healthcare you need, when you need it.
Who needs private medical insurance?
It can be kind of tough to narrow down exactly who needs private medical insurance, but it’s a good idea if you’re looking to take some of the load off of the NHS’ plate. Private healthcare also allows for a lot more choice, both in terms of how you’re treated – which doctors you see, which medications you take, etc. – and when you’re treated; if you’d like a little more control over your health, private medical insurance is a great first step.
How does private medical insurance work?
It’s pretty simple! If you have a private medical insurance policy, all you have to do is go see your GP about whatever injury, illness, or ailment you think you might have, and tell them that you have private medical insurance. If your GP then decides that you need treatment, they’ll refer you to a specialist. Before you see that specialist, you should contact your insurer to be sure that your claim will be eligible; only once you’ve gotten their approval can you start sorting out your specialist treatment. If you sort out costs before getting your insurer’s permission, you might end up lumped with the bill – which is the absolute opposite of what your policy is supposed to do – so make sure you follow all the regulations outlined in your policy document when it comes to claiming!
Does private medical insurance cover pre-existing medical conditions?
Pre-existing medical conditions – A.K.A. illnesses you had symptoms of or treatment for before you purchased your policy – are not covered by private medical insurance. You can generally still get private medical insurance if you have pre-existing conditions; it’s just that usually, these conditions are excluded from cover. If you’ve been without symptoms or treatment for a few years, some insurers might consider covering you for them – but that’s down to the specific policy and insurer, not industry standard.
What are the benefits of private medical insurance?
Private medical insurance comes with a bunch of benefits, including 24/7 digital GP services available at your convenience, mental health services, and access to drugs and treatments not available on the NHS. Depending on the policy, you can also usually choose what hospital or treatment centre you want to be seen at – and you might even be able to get a private room, so you can recover with the comfort and dignity that comes from peace and quiet. The biggest benefit of private medical insurance, though, is the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ll have access to the best and most convenient treatment possible if you need it – including breakthrough cancer drugs that the NHS unfortunately won’t be able to offer you.
What’s the difference between income protection insurance, redundancy protection insurance, and critical illness insurance?
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