Joining gyms, taking up tennis and becoming part of a football team are all ways of improving our health. In addition, reality TV shows such as of Dancing On Ice and Strictly Come Dancing, are encouraging people to get fit with interesting, innovative exercise.
Its great news when our nation decides to improve on fitness and health, but its not without risk…
The number of daily sports-related injuries in the UK is thought to be around 50,000. Sports injuries are par for the course for most enthusiasts and come in all shapes and sizes. Whether it is a high tackle playing rugby, an ankle sprain from the tennis court, or damaged muscles from the marathon, there is always an urgency to get patched up and back on track with minimum delay or loss of training. Thats why investing in private health insurance and knowing whether it covers you for your sport of choice should be a priority. If a sports injury is not treated as quickly as possible it could become weak, unstable, infected and lead to problems further down the line. This means less time on the field, and more time recuperating. If you have private health insurance, you could benefit from treatment by experienced physiotherapists. You can arrange treatment at a time and place to suit your needs, without the inconvenience of queues or waiting lists.
For some insurance claims, a GP referral will be necessary before a specialist can provide treatment. Assessment by a physiotherapist is followed by a rehabilitation programme before the patient can return to sport. Depending on the seriousness of the injury, there may also be a need for follow-up treatment. Are you already covered?
Some private health insurance plans are specifically designed to cover you for sports injuries. Alternatively, a standard health insurance policy may offer sports injury cover as an optional extra with an extra cost attached. You should closely inspect the wording of your policy to make sure that you are covered whilst playing sports. If you are covered, you should also make sure you know to what extent. For instance, are physiotherapy and follow-up sessions covered?
Some hazardous activities, sometimes termed extreme sports, will need extra cover built into the policy or may even be uninsurable. Extreme sports that may not be covered in a standard health insurance policy include bungee jumping, skateboarding, hand-gliding, base jumping, sky diving, and motor-cross. Some travel insurance policies will also include exemptions for these sports unless special mention is made. Winter sports, such as skiing and snowboarding, may also need extra insurance that covers you abroad.
So before taking part in any sport abroad, check whether your private medical insurance or travel insurance covers you. But beware, some insurance policies may exclude you from cover if you are participating in a competition but will cover you if your sport is recreational. It is essential to inspect the wording of your policy before committing.
Private health insurance guide
Private health insurance is a worthwhile financial investment in an era of long NHS waiting lists. Private health Insurance not only gives you the security and peace of mind that your medical costs will be covered if you fall ill or if you have an accident, but it will also ensure you bypass long waiting lists for treatments. It provides a fund to cover your consultations and any tests and operations you may need. Furthermore, you should benefit from a private room and be able to choose when and where you want to be treated.
Private health insurance is not an alternative to the NHS as private hospitals are generally not as well equipped to act as emergency wards. Many patients with health insurance still turn to the NHS specialist teams for accident and emergency services but use their health insurance policies for the diagnosis and treatment of acute non emergency conditions such as hip replacements and hernia operations.
Insurers, on the whole, offer different levels of private health insurance cover. The more you can afford to pay, the more comprehensive your policy is likely to be. Budget plans usually limit payouts to a set level, as well as limit or exclude payouts for some purposes such physiotherapy. For instance, they may pay for a set number of hospital nights or a set number of physiotherapy sessions, and when this number is exceeded they will no longer pay out. They may also restrict the range of hospitals that can be visited.
Standard plans are more comprehensive and will offer limited outpatient treatment, very limited complementary medications and some ambulance services. Treatment at top hospitals is usually excluded.
Top of the range comprehensive health insurance policies should include payouts for extra services such as home nursing, ambulance services, complementary medicines and full treatment costs. They should include a greater range of hospitals and in some cases cover dental and optician fees.
There are a number of factors that will affect the price you pay for your private health insurance policy. The cost of private health insurance depends on whom the policy is for, how comprehensive the policy is and which insurance provider you choose. Your premiums will also be affected by factors such as how old you are, the excess fee and your no claims benefit.
Private health insurance premiums tend to become more expensive as one gets older. In some cases private health insurers will not accept new customers of a certain age. One way to reduce your health insurance premiums is to opt for a higher excess limit. This is the amount that you will be liable to pay before your insurance kicks in. By leading a healthier lifestyle and not smoking you should be able to benefit from lower premiums.
Private health insurers will usually exclude cover for any pre-existing medical conditions or complications arising from it that a policyholder has suffered from in the last five years. Some insurers will cover some conditions if the policy holder is found to be free of it but incurable diseases are likely to always remain excluded.
Unfortunately there are some conditions that insurers will not cover. Some insurer will deny you insurance all together where as others will offer you limited cover excluding any treatment related to that condition. This could include asthma as well as conditions relating to drug abuse, self-harm, out patient drugs and dressing, HIV/AIDs, infertility, normal pregnancy, cosmetic surgery, gender re-assignment, preventative treatment, kidney dialysis, mobility aids, experimental treatment, experimental drugs, organ transplants, war risks or injuries from dangerous hobbies.
As with all insurance policies you must choose one that best suits your own needs and your budget. You should always read the small print carefully and take note of any exclusions.
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