Most health insurance policies cover you for treatment and surgery of medical conditions, you have options to include cover for consultations, diagnostic tests and 24/7 video GP services.

Additional cover may be available for mental health treatment, therapies, dental and optical care. Some insurers also offer travel cover. For more information, see our Health Insurance Guide.

No. In the UK, private health insurance works alongside the NHS rather than replacing it. Many people still rely on NHS services for emergencies and the management of chronic conditions. However, due to increasing demand and longer waiting times, some people choose private insurance to access faster appointments and treatment.

Private health insurance is designed to cover new medical conditions that arise after your policy begins, so pre existing conditions are usually excluded when starting a new policy. However, if you already have private health insurance and are looking to switch providers, its usually possible to continue cover for conditions that are already included on your current policy.

One of the benefits of working with Insured Health is that we compare options across insurers to help find the most suitable policy for your circumstances. We will also help you understand clearly what can and cannot be covered before you take out a policy.

The cost of private health insurance varies based on factors such as age, where you live, the level of cover you choose, your excess and medical history. Basic cover for younger adults can start from around £30 per month, although costs usually increase with age and more comprehensive cover.

The main reasons are:

• Faster access to specialists and treatments
• Choice of hospital and consultants
• More privacy or private rooms
• Access to treatments or drugs not available on the NHS

However, with growing pressure on the NHS and longer waiting times for some treatments, more people than ever are considering private health insurance to access faster care.