Cheap Medical Insurance: The Six Week Option

The long NHS waiting lists used to be the main reason why people became interested in private medical insurance. However waiting times are shorter now. The 2004 NHS Improvement set the target that by 2009 nine out of ten patients living in England should be seen within a maximum of 18 weeks for non-emergency treatment. The NHS seems to have achieved this. So where does this leave private health insurance?

The fact remains, that even though there has been excellent progress, 18 weeks is still a long wait if you are suffering from a medical condition that needs treatment. The private health market has schemes available that will pay for your treatment if you have to wait more than six weeks on the NHS. This is a more tolerable period of time which also means that you can take up the offer of this cheap medical insurance policy.

Standard Life, Norwich Union and AXA-PPP are all offering this type of cheap health insurance which can reduce your premiums by 10-30%. Your GP refers you to a specialist for diagnosis as normal and then if you have to wait any longer than six weeks for in or outpatient treatment you will be seen by a private health insurance doctor.

In order to find out whether you have to wait longer than six weeks for treatment the health insurance companies will go to the NHS detailed list of waiting times for both specialists and hospitals. They will be able to check if your consultant has long queues and if you have no particular consultant they will be able to refer you to a hospital near you who can treat you within the six weeks with the NHS.

Standard Life Healthcare offers this in both of their EspritHealtcare plans and provide a 10% reduction in your premium if you take up this option.

AXA PPP Healthcare also provide this option with the addition of £100 excess which is paid only once per year for each individual on their first claim.