Family Health Insurance

What is family health insurance?

Family health insurance provides private medical treatment for you and your family when you need it most. This cover offers peace of mind that you and your loved ones will receive a diagnosis and the right care without the need to wait for NHS treatment, which can sometimes take a long time.

By paying a monthly premium, you can bypass lengthy NHS waiting lists to see a specialist and receive private treatment to help you on the road to recovery. Depending on the level of cover you opt for, you might be able to choose the hospital you are treated at, as well as plan appointments around busy family life.

Children are usually covered until they reach 18, with some plans offering insurance beyond this age as long as the child is in full time education.

How does family health insurance work?

If you or a member of your family feel unwell or have an accident, the first step is to visit your GP as normal. You will then be referred under your health insurance for any tests required, before diagnosis and treatment.

What does family health insurance cover?

Health insurance for families typically covers the cost of treatment for acute conditions that occur after your policy has begun.

Comprehensive policies can be more costly but will offer you cover and peace of mind for a greater range of conditions and treatments. They may also provide cover for mental health conditions and other holistic treatments too. Depending on the policy you choose and your individual circumstances, it is also possible to get cover for sports injuries and more.

In addition, your policy may include:

• hospital accommodation for a parent when a child has to stay overnight
• a private ambulance
• home nursing
• dedicated medical helplines
• access to virtual GPs - even when your family is abroad.

Does family health insurance cover pre-existing conditions

A pre-existing condition includes various health issues, ranging from chronic conditions like diabetes or depression to isolated incidents such as back pain. During the application process, insurers typically inquire about your family's medical history. However, if you are transitioning to a new policy, some insurers may offer coverage for medical conditions previously covered by your prior insurance, known as continued personal medical exclusions.

What are the benefits of family health insurance?

There are a great many benefits to taking out private family health insurance, not least in having peace of mind that you will have access to the services you and your loved ones need, as soon as you need them. Health insurance for families typically includes treatment for acute medical conditions, diagnostic tests and consultations, while some policies can also give access to drugs and treatment not available on the NHS.

A wide range of plans offer out-patient as well as in-patient treatment and, if you do have to stay overnight, you will often get the option to recover in your own private room instead of on an open ward. Many family health insurance policies also provide cover to ensure a parent can stay at the hospital overnight where a child is admitted, and is recompensed for this too.

What should I ask about my family health insurance?

As with any type of insurance policy, it's important to know exactly what you're taking out and to understand what is and isn't covered. You can tailor the policy so that it meets your family's specific requirements.

Most policies cover diagnostic tests and access to specialist consultants, as well as in-patient hospital care, but if you want to ensure cover for out-patient treatment, you will need to look for a more comprehensive plan. Similarly, if, for example, cancer cover is a priority for your family, you will need a policy with specific radiotherapy and chemotherapy cover.

What is a health cash plan?

Cash plans offer money back on routine health care such as opticians, dentists and chiropodists, up to an annual limit and can be a useful way of managing your family budget. However, they’re very different from private health insurance for your family, which is more comprehensive and can include consultations, diagnosis and surgery.

How much does family health insurance cost?

As with any type of insurance policy, it's important to know exactly what you're taking out and to understand what is and isn't covered. You can tailor the policy so that it meets your family's specific requirements and these requirements will impact the cost.

Comparing your family health insurance options with ActiveQuote is a really straightforward process. You will be asked a few simple questions including your name and address, your date of birth, whether or not you smoke and your monthly health insurance budget. Then we take it from there.

The cost of your family health insurance policy depends on:

• The number of people in your policy
• The ages of the people in your policy
• Where you live in the UK
• The medical history in your family
• Whether the parents are smokers
• The level of cover that you have chosen

What is an excess in family health insurance?

A family health insurance excess refers to the amount you are responsible for paying when filing a claim. For example, if a treatment costs £2000 and your excess is £250, you will cover the initial £250, with the insurer covering the remaining £1,750. Choosing to have a higher excess can help reduce your monthly family health insurance premiums.

Can I reduce the cost of family health insurance?

You can choose the level of cover required at a price that's affordable for your family budget. As with many health insurance policies, your premium is likely to be cheaper if you and your partner don't smoke and take regular exercise, while opting for a higher excess, the amount you will have to pay towards a claim, can also keep costs lower.

Is your family already covered through your health insurance?

You may already have family health insurance if you have health insurance through work. Sometimes employers will automatically include your family in your policy, or give you the option to add your family to your cover for an additional sum. However, it’s worth noting that this might not reach the level of cover you need or desire for your family so it’s worth finding out more about the policy and understanding what is covered or not.

Why compare family health insurance with ActiveQuote.com?

As one of the leading health insurance comparison services in the UK, we understand how important your family's health is to you. We work with a range of trusted partners to offer families the best cover at the right price. You can find out more about our partners in our guide to health insurance.

Our policies are easy to understand and can usually be bought online, while our expert advisors are on hand to answer all your questions and provide that extra peace of mind your family deserves for those less familiar with the options available to them.

We’re also rated by customers as the number one health insurance broker in the UK, so you can rest assured you’re in safe hands.

With ActiveQuote you can:

• View more than 50 quotes online
• Compare the UK’s leading insurers
• Tailor your quotes online with live price updates
• Buy your chosen health insurance online
• Get free advice from a health insurance specialist

Family health insurance FAQs

Until what age will my children be covered?

This varies with the insurer, some will cover your children for as long as they live at your home, others will continue the cover but charge for them as an adult once they reach a certain age (typically 18) and others will stop insuring your children as soon as they reach an age limit. It is important to check to see which rules apply by reviewing your policy terms.

Which family members can be covered in family health insurance?

Family policies cover the policyholders and their dependents. You can’t add extended family members, such as grandparents, cousins, and nieces and nephews on a family health insurance policy.

What should I consider before taking out family health insurance?

When selecting health insurance for your family, it’s worth taking several things into consideration:

• Affordability: Is the plan financially viable, does it offer options for monthly or annual payments?
• Hospital Preferences: Determine if specific private hospitals are included in the coverage network.
• Medical History Review: Assess your family's medical background and check if there are any exclusions imposed by the policy.
• Customisation: Tailor the policy to meet your family’s specific needs and preferences, modifying it if necessary.
• Limit Awareness: Familiarise yourself with any coverage limits or restrictions associated with the plan.

How many children can I add to family health insurance?

Usually family policies cover up to 2 adults with the number of children varying between policies. Some policies may require you to pay for the first child with others added onto the policy at no extra cost, however, this isn’t a given so it’s worth finding out what’s available to you before purchasing a policy.