Over 50s health insurance
Save money on your health insurance
Compare the whole market
Get free expert advice
Rated Excellent
on
What are the benefits of private health insurance for the over 50s?
As we get older, the risk of illness or injury increases, and with the current issues facing the NHS and record backlogs, private health insurance has never been more valuable.
Here's how over 50s health insurance will benefit you:
- Avoid NHS waiting lists
- Access private hospital treatment
- Choose where and when you’re treated
- Peace of mind should you become unwell
- A private room in hospital
- Virtual GP services
How does over 50s health insurance work?
Once you choose a policy, you'll pay a monthly premium, and in the event you need medical treatment for a new acute condition, you can claim and go private for your treatment.
You can find out more about how health insurance claims work here.
Compare & Choose a Provider
Find the best insurer and policy, then start paying a monthly premium.
Access Private Healthcare
If you become unwell with an eligible condition, you can go private for treatment.
Your Insurer Does The Rest
Once your claim is authorised, your specialist and hospital will invoice your insurer.
Core cover*
In-patient and day-patient treatment – when you're admitted to hospital for a day or overnight.- Cancer treatment – most insurers offer extensive cancer care once you are diagnosed with cancer.
- Private room in hospital – enjoy some privacy while you're in hospital and a more relaxed environment.
- NHS Cash Benefit – get a cash benefit when you stay overnight in an NHS hospital.
- Virtual GP service – 24/7 access to a private GP, on the phone or via video call.
- Out-patient surgery - cover for minor surgery where you’re not admitted to hospital.
Optional Add-ons
Out-patient diagnosis – for out-patient consultations, tests and diagnostic tests.- Diagnostic scans – X-rays, MRIs, CTs and other pre-diagnosis tests.
- Mental health cover – psychiatry and psychology services.
- Routine dental and optical cover – cash benefit designed to help towards the cost of regular
- Alternative therapies – acupuncture, osteopathy, chiropractors, homoeopaths or podiatrists.
- Travel cover – cover when you're overseas..
What does private medical insurance exclude?
What’s specifically excluded will vary between providers and policies, but generally speaking, you can expect the following not to be covered:
Pre-existing conditions - medical conditions you’ve suffered from or sought treatment for in the past five years.- Chronic medical conditions - conditions like asthma, diabetes and dementia are excluded.
- Cosmetic surgery - although some insurers will pay for restorative, cosmetic surgery after a major operation.
- A&E treatment - you’ll still need the NHS for accidents and emergency treatment.
- Learning difficulties - ADHD, autism and other learning difficulties are excluded.
This isn't an exhaustive list; please refer to your health insurance policy documentation for more details.
How do I get an over 50s health insurance quote?
Tell us a bit about yourself and your requirements.
Answer a few simple questions and one of our highly-rated brokers will make a start finding the best health insurance coverage for you.
Receive a whole of market comparison quote.
Our partners work with the whole market, so they'll give you a comprehensive comparison and identify the most suitable policy for you.
Save money and get covered.
Get private medical insurance cover on the same day and avoid NHS waiting lists.
What should I look for when comparing over 50s private health insurance?
When you speak with a broker and compare health insurance policies and providers, you’ll undoubtedly have a reasonable amount of information to digest. Amongst that, we recommend that the following are high on your list of priorities:
1. Customer service levels
2. Level of cover
3. Types of underwriting
4. Consultant and hospital choice
Frequently asked questions
What is the best health insurance for the over 50s?
Currently the best private health insurance providers for the over 50s in the UK are (in alphabetical order):
- Axa Health
- Bupa
- Saga
- The Exeter
- WPA
You can read our guide to the best health insurance for over 50s here.
What's the cheapest health insurance for over 50s?
This is a difficult question to answer as it will depend on where you live and the policy options you choose. However, by opting for a guided consultant list, limiting your out-patient cover and including an excess of resonable size, you should be able to get a relatively inexpensive health insurance policy.
What changes have their recently been with over 50s health insurance?
Perhaps the biggest change is Saga changing their underwriter from Axa PPP Healthcare to Bupa Insurance limited, which has seen Saga gain access to additional policy benefits such as Bupa's direct access service. We're not sure at this stage whether Saga's pricing is as good as Bupa's however.