Tesco Medical Insurance

Tesco has changed the way it offers health insurance. It now offers a modular range of options which are all underwritten by AXA PPP Healthcare

The main cover is Operations and Procedures and at an additional cost you can then choose two other options: Consultations and Tests and Additional Therapies.

Operations and Procedures covers the costs of:

-Surgery
-In-patient and outpatient treatment
-Out-patient surgical procedures
-Chemotherapy and radiotherapy

Option 1, Consultations and Tests covers the costs of specialist and diagnostic fees and Option 2, Additional Therapies, covers physiotherapy acupuncture, homeopathic and chiropractic treatments. Both options have a £1,000 limit. You can have either or both of the options added to your policy.

The Tesco private health insurance policy also pays for an ambulance should you need it to get from home to your treatment venue. Most policies do not cover this.

Within Operations and Procedures you have a six-week option. With this you are entitled to reduced premiums if you agree that you are happy to be seen by the NHS as long as they can fit you in within six weeks.

Jeremy Sutton, head of Tesco Health Insurance said: "We have launched these new levels of cover in response to feedback, which told us customers wanted flexibility and choice, with a range of options, to suit their needs."

As an incentive for people to apply Tesco are offering three months free although the website states that 'Tesco Personal Finance (TPF) reserves the right to alter, cancel or withdraw this promotion without prior notice.'

The Operations and Procedures policy is offered with a £100 excess and Option 2 comes with either a £200 or an expensive £500 excesse. The policy does not cover psychiatric treatment or treatment outside of their Directory of Hospitals. Additionally Tesco will only pay for costs within the usual price range for a treatment.