Individual Private Medical Insurance
Private Medical Insurance (PMI) is designed to provide cover for medical expenses incurred for a short-term, acute illness or injury where there is an expectation of recovery. These costs can include consultations, diagnostic investigations, treatment and surgery.
It is not a complete substitute for the National Health Service, and does not mean that superior treatment is being obtained outside the NHS. It is designed to work in tandem and provide peace of mind that treatment can be obtained promptly and often in more comfortable surroundings, for an eligible medical condition.
Within the Private Medical Insurance market there is an extensive range of products to suit an individual’s or family’s requirements. The level of cost and cover varies, with insurers offering fully comprehensive schemes to low cost budget plans.
A typical range of benefits is as follows:
- Full refund of hospital and additional charges
- Full refund of surgeon’s, anesthetist’s, and other specialist fees
- Out-patient treatment e.g. consultations, diagnostic tests, physiotherapy etc
- Alternative therapies e.g. chiropractor, acupuncturist, osteopath etc
- Accommodation costs for parent to stay with hospitalised child
- Home nursing
- Private ambulance
There are common exclusions imposed by most insurers, the objective of which is to focus on the essential treatment, and to try and keep the cost of Private Medical Insurance to a minimum.