What Does Health Insurance Cover?

What does private health insurance cover?

Also known as private medical insurance (PMI), private health insurance can cover the cost of and offer faster access to diagnosis including tests, scans, specialist consultations and treatment of a new condition, subject to the level of cover you choose.

Unlike motor insurance, health cover is not a legal requirement but if you do take out a policy, you will pay regular premiums in the same way you do for your car.

Healthcare is, of course, available at no additional cost through the NHS for UK residents but post-pandemic, the wait lists have reached unprecedented levels.

Michelle Cooper, Director of Health Insurance advises: "Having private health insurance doesn’t mean you can’t use the NHS. Many people rely on both and use health insurance to complement the NHS’s services. For example, you might visit your GP for initial concerns and then use your health insurance for faster specialist referrals, tests, or treatments."

What does UK private health insurance cover?

Cover varies depending on the provider, but it can include things, such as:

Treatment in a private hospital
NHS hospital cash benefits
Private consultation
Physiotherapy
Access to online services
Outpatient services including scans, X-rays, tests and hospital appointments.

What is not covered by UK health insurance?

It’s important to know the different cover options available and the benefits and services they provide.

Not all private healthcare providers include mental health cover and very few cover long-term treatment of chronic conditions such as diabetes.

Private health insurance may also not cover you for:

Emergency treatment
Cosmetic surgery
Routine dental costs
Some alternative therapies.

Checklist of questions to ask when comparing health insurance providers

Think carefully about your needs before selecting a health insurance provider and always read the policy book thoroughly to check for exclusions. Here are some questions to ask to help you choose:

Will my health insurance cover family members?
Does the policy include mental health cover?
Am I covered for cancer treatment?
Can I choose which hospital I go to?
How much will my excess be?

How much can I claim on my health insurance each year?
How much outpatient cover do I get each year?
Is there cover for problems affecting joints, muscles and bones?
Do I need a GP referral for private treatment?

What does Saga Health Insurance cover?

Find out more about our health insurance and the flexible plans we can offer to give you the best cover to suit your needs.

We have four Saga HealthPlans to choose from and a range of options for getting seen, tested and treated fast.

Our Saga GP Service means you can get unlimited GP appointments over the phone 24/7, 365 days a year from anywhere in the world to discuss your health needs.

And remember, you can only get Saga Health Insurance from us – it isn’t available anywhere else. It’s been developed especially for people over 50 and is underwritten by Bupa Insurance Limited.

Can I get health insurance that covers pre-existing conditions?

Like most other private health insurance policies in the UK, all Saga HealthPlans are intended to cover the costs of treating medical conditions that arise after the date you join.

Please refer to our policy books which explain how we assess any pre-existing conditions that you may have and detail the different methods of underwriting that we use.

If you're new to health insurance, we automatically exclude treatment for any medical condition or certain specified related conditions you’ve experienced or had symptoms of during the three years prior to joining. This applies to you or anyone you wish to be covered. Whichever method of underwriting you choose, you will be covered for any new, eligible conditions that arise after the policy starts.

If you have a pre-existing medical condition, please call our friendly health insurance team on 0330 094 6361 to discuss your cover options.

Who underwrites Saga Health Insurance?

Saga Health Insurance is a unique product designed by us specifically for our customers and it is only available through us. Together with our underwriter, Bupa Insurance Limited, we are committed to providing high levels of quality, service and choice. That's why we offer a range of policies that can be tailored to suit your needs and budget.