Can I Find Cheap Medical Insurance?

Although around 12% of UK citizens are covered by a private health insurance policy there is evidence that the vast majority of consumers do not have a clear picture of the benefits of health cover. A recent survey conducted by health insurer BCWA found that 83% of British people would rather pay medical costs upfront if they felt it was warranted rather than consider private health cover. Surveys have shown that consumers are uninformed about how much health insurance costs and feel that it would be a prohibitive expense. But is it possible to find cheap medical insurance that still offers excellent care? The following information will compare medical insurance plans across four different categories.

Basic Health Insurance Comparison
Mr & Mrs Taylor, both 33 year old non-smokers, from Surrey wanted basic married health insurance cover:
-£65.36 BUPA Client Choice - £250 excess
-£47.26 AXA Healthcover - £100 excess
-£28.19 with Freedom Diamond Health Insurance (Inpatient only) - £100 excess

Mid RangeMedical Insurance Comparison
Mr Peterson & Ms Lines, 38 and 36 year old non-smoking couple, from Hertfordshire wanted mid range couple health insurance cover:
-£100.49 BUPA Client Choice - £0 excess
-£89.87 AXA Healthcover Plus - £100 excess
-£59.17 with Freedom Gold Health Insurance (Inpatient & Outpatient) - £100 excess

Comprehensive Family Health Insurance Comparison
Mr & Mrs Nolan & 2 children, aged 28, 30, 2 & 7 a non-smoking couple, from Birmingham wanted comprehensive family health insurance cover with a £100 excess:
-£126.76 PRU Health Comprehensive
-£109.15 AXA Healthcover Deluxe
-£80.99 with Freedom Diamond Plus Medical Insurance (including therapies)

Comprehensive Single Parent Medical Insurance Comparison
Non-smoking Mr Bruce & his son Simon, 55 & 17 years old (in full time education), from Kent wanted single parent medical insurance with a £100 excess:
-£91.80 Health-on-Line
-£112.59 AXA Healthcover Deluxe
-£110.61 with Freedom Diamond Plus Medical Insurance (including therapies)

In this comparison Freedom offers the cheapest health insurance across three of the four categories. Would more people take out health insurance if they new about how reasonable it could be? It seems that the onus is on insurance companies to be more upfront about costs and inform the public about its benefits.