Health & Medical Insurance Information

Health Insurance Policies

2008-12-01T07:43:00.004Z

Cash plan private medical insurance policies have a reputation for being the most competitive in the market. Freedom’s policies in particular, can be, on average, half the price of similar levels of cover offered by its rivals in the health insurance market. But have you ever wondered how it is possible to offer such a good level of cover, with benefits starting from £30,000 worth of treatment on the most basic of policies, for significantly less than other health insurance companies?

Freedom maintains its low premiums by paying cash directly to you instead of the hospital. If you can go to a private healthcare centre with a cash lump sum they will more often than not offer the treatment at a lower price than they would to someone who has a traditional private medical insurance policy where the company pays directly to the hospital for the cost of the healthcare. This allows Freedom to pass on the savings to you as customers with much lower monthly premiums.

Freedom as a company has not spent as much on marketing and advertising as its counterparts in the private health insurance market. Television advertising can be very costly to a company and Freedom has decided to stick with more cost effective forms of marketing like print advertising to allow it to pass on the savings again to its customers. Some people might argue that Freedom is not as well known as, for example, BUPA for this reason, but Freedom's customers can be satisfied by the fact that they have a robust private medical insurance policy, but for sufficiently less money.

Compare Health Insurance

2008-12-01T07:39:00.003Z

When taking out any sort of insurance policy – whether it is for your car or private health cover – it is always best to shop around to find the best deal for you, especially as money has become increasingly tight. The easiest way to do this is by taking out an online quote with a personalised quote coming back to you in a very short amount of time. You could potentially halve the amount you pay for a private health insurance policy, even just by looking at a different type of health insurance.

Cash plan health insurance policies are different to traditional private health cover plans because they pay you a cash lump sum, rather than paying directly to a health care clinic for the cost of your treatment. This not only allows you to have access to top quality hospitals with short waiting lists and the best facilities in the country, but also gives you the option to stay on the NHS if you wish and use the money to help with the costs incurred as a result of your illness. This is becoming increasingly important as many people are struggling to continue paying their hefty bills when they are forced to take time off work.

Cash plan insurance policies like those offered by Freedom are on average the most competitive in price. They can be half the price of the rest of the policies offered in the private health insurance market. So not only can you take advantage of the exclusive benefits of this unique health insurance policy, but you can save money at the same time, giving you more to spend elsewhere.

Lower Quotes for Medical Insurance

2008-11-18T13:10:00.004Z

Private medical insurance has long been perceived by many to be a luxury. With much of the UK’s population cutting back on ‘wants’ and concentrating on their ‘needs’, private health cover could be made less of a priority, but this doesn’t have to be the case. There are a few ways in which you can save money on a quote for health insurance.

First, you should make sure that you have chosen the level of cover that is most relevant to you and your family’s lifestyle. There is no point paying for a policy which has a maximum level of benefits to offer like Freedom’s Diamond Plus Comprehensive cover, when you may not be taking full advantage of it. When money is tight, a more basic policy such as Freedom Gold Medical Insurance could still provide you with the peace of mind that a more extensive level of cover with another insurer could provide, but at a fraction of the cost.*

There are other options, if you would still like to enjoy the wide range of treatments that can be made available from a good private health insurance policy. By increasing your initial excess fee you will also be able to lower your premiums. Sometimes your quote will be decreased with a no claims discount, if you haven’t claimed on your policy as of yet . If you decide to take up a healthy lifestyle, by giving up smoking for example, this can also make a difference, as well other options, such as narrowing the hospital choice open to you, and also, electing for a longer waiting time.

*Get an instant online quote and call 0800 999 2013 for comparison quotes with other providers, quoting BLOG as reference.

Freedom Answers Medical Insurance Questions

2008-11-18T11:45:00.006Z

It is very important that you should think carefully about how to get a private medical insurance policy that suits your needs. If the time comes when you need to make a claim, you do not want to find that you are not covered for a particular type of treatment. When enquiring into a quote for private health insurance there are many questions that you should ask yourself. Here are just a few:

Am I required to undergo any health checks?

This depends on which type of underwriting you choose for your policy. If you opt for moratorium underwriting you will not have to take any tests or give any information, but for two years you won’t be covered for the treatment of any type of condition that you have had medication, advice, treatment or have experienced symptoms for, whether or not the condition has been diagnosed in the last five years. You will have to fill out a full medical questionnaire however, if you choose full medical underwriting.
Will I have to contribute anything towards the cost of my health care?

You will have to pay a £100 excess on every claim you make with Freedom Healthnet. However, if you decide to increase this cost then you could save up to a quarter off your premiums. With fully comprehensive policies such as Diamond Plus, you will be entitled to unlimited in-patient and out-patient care so you should not have to pay anything else, but you may have to pay a little bit extra if your treatment goes over the limits of your benefits.

Are dental and alternative therapies covered?

Freedom Healthnet does not contribute towards the cost of any dental treatment, but it does embrace the popularity of alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, with the possibility for Diamond Plus customers to add this on to their policies. Other options include psychiatric care and rehabilitation treatments like home nursing and specialist second opinions which are not always covered by other health insurers.

NHS Top Up & Private Health Insurance

2008-11-12T17:05:00.003Z

So, how could health insurance from Freedom help you with NHS Top Ups?
Mrs A from London is diagnosed with breast cancer. She has private medical insurance with Freedom Healthnet and contacts the claims department. Upon confirmation of her condition by her consultant and approval of her claim, she receives a payment of £4,500*, tax-free. Mrs A decides to have her surgery on the NHS and keeps the money. She decides she wants to top up her NHS treatment by paying for a specific drug and uses the money paid to her by Freedom to fund this.

Get an instant online health insurance quote and instant get cover from Freedom Medical Insurance.

*Please note: amounts are approximate

Freedom Can Help with NHS Top Ups

2008-11-11T18:01:00.006Z

With the announcement this month from the Department of Health, allowing us to top-up NHS treatment, private health insurance companies across the UK are looking for ways to address this new market. The move means that patients may now be able to put money towards the cost of their healthcare if the NHS refuses to pay for all of it, for example where a particularly expensive drug might be concerned, previously subject to approval by NICE. Before, if a patient wanted to contribute, they would have had to fork out for the cost of the entire treatment; something that would have been too expensive for most people. But, while the majority of insurers are working to develop a private medical insurance policy to help people out in this situation, Freedom has a ready made NHS top-up solution that you can access straight away.

As a health insurance provider that offers cash upon approval of inpatient claim, Freedom’s policies work slightly differently to traditional health insurance. Instead of paying directly to the private hospital or facility where you received your surgery, Freedom gives you a cash lump sum which then enables you to use the money as you see fit. So, if you wanted to be treated in a private clinic then you could, but you could also choose to be treated by the NHS and use the money to top up the treatment that you would have received on the NHS. Freedom’s Gold Essential health insurance policy would be ideal, if you just wanted to be covered for this eventuality. Premiums start at just £10.88 per month and give you access to up to £30,000 of in-patient cover.

More information about health insurance & NHS Tops Ups.

Diabetes Signs and Symptoms

2008-11-11T17:53:00.004Z

Diabetes is very common in the UK. It’s one of those “it’ll never happen to me conditions” but with new research linking diabetes to slow child development, there is even more reason why you should have regular check ups, available with some policies as a benefit of private health insurance. The study by Laval University’s School of Psychology in Canada has found that women who develop diabetes during pregnancy are twice as likely to have a child with language development problems, particularly with vocabulary and grammatical skills. The leading researcher, Ginette Dionne, told science journal ‘Pediatrics’, “As mothers are having their children at a later age and the incidence of obesity in the population is on the rise, the rate of gestational diabetes is clearly increasing.”

There is no better time then to take out a private medical insurance policy, giving you access to in-depth health check ups that could pick up on such a condition. The symptoms of diabetes can often go unmissed and are not thought unusual – for example needing to visit the toilet more regularly and feeling more thirsty. This means that many cases of diabetes are not caught and can develop into a more serious version of the condition. If caught in time, some types can be treated purely by a change in diet, avoiding the use of insulin injections altogether; a thought that is daunting for many people.

Who takes out health insurance?

2008-11-04T22:28:00.003Z

Breaking the Mould - Why Not Try Health Insurance?

Research into the health insurance market has revealed that certain characteristics make a person more likely to be covered by a private medical insurance policy than others. The study, carried out by Besley, Hall and Preston, found that the typical policy holder is approximately middle aged, reasonably wealthy and a supporter of the Conservative party. But with cash plan medical insurance policies dropping traditional premiums by a significant amount, more people across the UK population should consider taking out a quote.

Many different factors were taken into account in the study including age, gender, occupational status, educational level and area of residence. The research found noticeable differences across the age spectrum. In 2001, only 2.7 per cent of the UK’s 16 to 24 year olds had private medical insurance in comparison to nearly eight per cent of 55 to 64 year olds – over triple the amount. Very competitive student health insurance is available for as little as £9.87 per month so this trend could easily change. Men are almost three times as likely to buy a health insurance policy than women, and double the amount of men than women are covered by employee health insurance as revealed in a study of BHPS statistics between 1996 and 2002. Despite this, women made up three quarters of those family members covered by an extended policy.

Other studies found that over four in ten of the richest members of society had private health cover compared to only 3.7 per cent of the poorest people. Education also made a difference. Those who had been through further education such as university were more likely to be policy-holders than those who had left school at sixteen. The percentage of the population with PMI also varied across the UK, with one in five of people in the south-east of the country having some sort of cover compared with only 6 per cent living in the north-east.

Health Insurance Risk Calculations

2008-11-04T22:19:00.003Z

Behind the Scenes – How Your Risk is Calculated

Quotes for private health insurance are so easy and simple to get these days. Fill in a quick form on the internet and a figure is sent back to you almost instantly. But have you ever wondered how private medical insurance companies arrive at a certain sum?

How much you pay for private health cover depends on risk factors. These obviously vary from person to person and result in a very personalised quote for every individual. Age is the main variant which affects the cost of your private health insurance policy. When a person is younger they are less likely to suffer from serious illnesses or need time in hospital for a procedure like a hip replacement, meaning that their premiums are much lower. This is the best time to take out medical insurance, because not only will you be paying less, but there is also the possibility that having had access to the sort of provision of care that creates more peace of mind, and that often has shorter waiting lists and more choice, may have reduced some of the risks you could otherwise have been exposed to.

Age is not the only risk factor. Your quote will also be based upon gender, occupational status and whether or not you smoke. Men and women differ in the types of conditions they are prone to and this is reflected in the price of your policy. Some areas of work are also more likely to cause injury than others, for example, manual labour occupations would pose more of a danger than a secretarial position. The area of the UK in which you live can also provide variance on your health insurance quote because of issues such as the size of the local population, the waiting times at your nearby NHS facilities, the ratio of people to NHS services and the cost of private healthcare in your area.

Patients waiting too long for GPs

2008-10-27T23:09:00.003Z

Many GPs are not meeting their waiting time targets, according to an NHS watchdog. In its recent report, the Healthcare Commission found that over two thirds of all practices could not offer an appointment within 48 hours – the guideline that was set as part of new contracts for doctors in 2004. In the previous year, eight out of ten surgeries met the target. Primary care trusts across the country have now been instructed to launch a review in their areas to avoid losing their patients to private medical insurance.

Despite claims from both the government and doctors that the information was misleading as it was based on patient surveys as well as anonymous calls to surgeries, Gary Needle from the Healthcare Commission told the BBC, “If it was only a 10% difference then you might say patients were not understanding the exact question put to them, but you can't explain away this scale of difference in that way. Patients are not getting sufficient access."

Health insurance policies allow patients to use world class private facilities, where waiting times are not an issue. It is a priority for many people to be able to have access to a doctor when they need it, not when an appointment is available. The problem may be irrelevant by the time they get to see a GP, and many people will be put off going altogether, possibly making the illness worse in the long run. With early detection of many conditions vital to a person's recovery, it is likely that these statistics will encourage people to get a quote for private medical insurance where they will be seen and treated efficiently, and in a place and time convenient to them.

Road Traffic Accidents & Private Health Insurance

2008-10-20T23:08:00.006+01:00

In the UK, the government is working hard to try to reduce the number of Road Traffic Accidents that occur each year. The latest data from the Office for National Statistics show that there were around 247,780 accidents in 2007, 4 per cent fewer than in 2006. ‘Looked but failed to see’ (LBFTS) accidents contribute to around 35 per cent of all reported accidents, and four out of the five most frequently reported factors involve driver or rider error or reaction. Younger and older drivers are most likely to be involved in accidents than drivers aged 25-69. Younger male drivers are more likely to have factors related to speed and behaviour, whereas older drivers are more likely to have factors related to vision and judgement. There is much psychological and perceptual research taking place that aims to reduce these sorts of incidents, but the fact remains that when they do take place, having private health insurance cover can really help to smooth the way to recovery.

Accident and emergency treatment via the NHS will almost certainly return you to a good level of health, but with access to private health care, waiting lists can be avoided for treatment, and alternative therapies such as acupuncture are available if required. Private medical insurance could also cover costs incurred by staying in an NHS hospital, for example, if parents are forced into an overnight stay if their child becomes ill. This is a common feature of cash plan health insurance, whereby customers have the option as to whether they would like to receive their treatment in an NHS hospital, private clinic or a centre overseas. Policy holders may also have access to telephone helplines to give advice to road traffic accident victims after their traumatic experience.

Reduce Premiums with Group Health Insurance

2008-10-16T13:38:00.003+01:00

Money has become tight for many people in the UK over the past six months, with increasing food, gas and electricity bills causing problems for some. Experts are giving advice here, there and everywhere on how to decrease spending, whether through buying supermarket own brand products, or using energy-saving light bulbs. Now it seems that there are ways that you can save on your private medical insurance too, by being part of a corporate health insurance policy.

If your company already offers private health cover as a benefit to its employees, you should be able to get a much more competitive quote as an individual. The bigger your company is, the better, as the overall cost is dependant upon how many people are covered by the policy. It is worth researching into a company before you commit to working for them as a job is not always just about the wage packet.

Another way to make your quote for private medical insurance cheaper is by taking it out when you are young and more healthy. This way, you are not only less likely to have to make a claim but with access to top quality healthcare and check-ups you may be less prone to serious illness as you get older. Cash plan private health insurance can also save you money, as well as giving you the option to choose where and when you undertake your treatment, choosing a time and place that is convenient to you.

Medical Insurance: Covering the Cost of Illness

2008-10-14T09:44:00.005+01:00

Cancer patients in Ireland have resorted to taking out loans to help with costs incurred as a result of illness, a new study has shown. The research, carried out by the National Cancer Registry of Ireland, found that sufferers were having to pay for childcare, domestic help and wigs, as well as routine household bills and transport costs, which became a struggle with the lack of a regular wage during recovery. Getting to and from clinics was also likely to become even more of a burden, as cancer treatments in the country are being transferred to just eight clinics. Some of the twenty-one patients that participated in the investigation had even reported eating into savings and being left asking friends and family to help out with added costs.

There are many aspects of being ill that can put pressure on people. Anything from the common cold to more serious bouts of illness can cause someone to take time off from work. Private health insurance could help patients by making it easier to access health care more quickly than on the NHS, with its long waiting lists, and by enabling patients to choose where they receive treatment. Cash plans mean that patients can choose to get treatment privately, or alternatively use the money to help with childcare costs for example, and wait for NHS treatment.

Medical Tourism Queries

2008-10-07T09:29:00.001+01:00

Travelling abroad for private medical care is becoming increasingly popular, with over one million people worldwide now opting to make the most of state of the art facilities overseas. With the freedom of cash plan medical insurance policies, patients can receive their treatment wherever they like, whether via their local hospital, or in brand new clinics in places such as Thailand, Hong Kong or across Europe. Despite the many benefits of making a trip across the border, the prospect of being in a strange country at a time when you may need reassurance can be daunting and a number of questions may spring to mind.

How safe is it?
There are risks attached to any kind of medical treatment, whether carried out in UK, or abroad, but you could visit some of the world’s best clinics, by taking advantage of just one of the benefits of private medical insurance and going abroad. There are bodies that accredit health centres so it is worth investigating the checks they carry out, before stepping on a plane, but with success rates as high as 98.5 percent in some areas of Asia, for complicated cardiac procedures, there should be no need to worry.

Does quality drop alongside cost?
It’s true that the cost of private medical care abroad is much cheaper, however this does not necessarily affect the quality of treatment. Lower wages for doctors, more modest living standards and less expensive costs of private health care are the dominant factors.

What happens if complications arise?
Normally, patients will stay in the country for long enough that staff can ensure that the treatment was successful and that any follow up care and therapies are being undertaken correctly. This means it is very unlikely that complications will occur in the first place. However, on the off chance that something unexpected should happen, a private medical insurance policy should help to cover any further care whether you chose to have it at home or in the original clinic.

Get Health Insurance Early

2008-10-01T23:20:00.009+01:00

When is the best time to take out a health insurance policy? That is one of the many questions that often go through the mind of someone who is enquiring into a quote for private health cover but now one expert thinks she has the answer. Vanessa Bourne, a spokeswoman for the Patients Association, thinks the earlier the better. Many young people, particularly students, believe that a private health insurance is irrelevant while they are less likely to suffer from severe health conditions, but Ms. Bourne says, "Our advice would be that if you want private coverage, get it early in life when it should be cheaper, and try and keep it if you change jobs." She also described how the “meter starts again” every time somebody embarks on a new policy and each time the cost of premiums can be increased by factors such as age and health changes.

By taking out a student medical insurance policy, it is possible to get access to a wide range of top quality medical services, such as general health checks and treatment at a convenient time and place, whether these services are required at home while at university. In the long term, it can mean a better state of health than for someone who does not have access to these facilities, and could lower insurance premiums later in life. Many students may be put off taking out private health cover, because of a lack of funding, but with policies starting from only £9.99 a month, private health insurance for students can be very affordable, and money well spent.

Has Your Operation Been Cancelled by the NHS?

2008-09-23T08:19:00.005+01:00

Over 100,000 operations have been cancelled in the past year by the National Health Service, nearly double the number initially reported by the government. The Department of Health stated that 57,000 patients had to have their procedures rescheduled but this only includes those that were informed with less than 24 hours' notice. Many people even suffered from more than one cancellation. It is no wonder then that the number of people taking out a cash plan private medical insurance policy rose by at least three per cent in last year, meaning the total number of people benefitting from health cover reached almost three million in the UK.

Operation cancellations can be deeply troubling for patients, particularly those who are nervously anticipating their stay in hospital. Mark Martin from Health On-Line said, "Often these procedures are of a major or complex nature and one cancellation, let alone multiple cancellations, only adds to the anxieties and stress experienced by the patient and their family. Private medical insurance can go some way towards alleviating these stresses by allowing the patient to choose when and where their procedure is undertaken." Cash plan private medical insurance policies like those from Freedom Healthnet do just this.

Among the many choices available to you are: a private clinic that is in a suitable location, whether it is close to home, or further away, if you don’t mind a longer journey. If you would like to travel out of the country, you can also opt to receive your treatment abroad, or if you want to visit your local NHS hospital, your private medical insurance policy can supplement any costs incurred. Either way, you can avoid long waiting lists and have your operation without the fear that it will be cancelled.

Employees Want Private Health Insurance

2008-09-15T17:11:00.005+01:00

Four in ten workers in the UK think their employers should provide them with private healthcare through a corporate health insurance policy. These figures come from the latest study by BUPA, which found private health cover came second only to pensions, in a list of employee concerns regarding their job. Having a comfortable retirement fund was a top priority for just marginally more people at forty nine per cent, halving the difference between the two benefits from the previous year. Health is clearly becoming increasingly important for employees, with gym membership and wellness assessments also resulting high in the research. As well as this, businesses are now being encouraged by the Government to provide support for their staff as advised in the Department for Work and Pensions’ 'Review of the Health of the Working Population.' It seems that there is not a better time to get a quote for corporate medical insurance.

For three in four of all employees who would like to see private medical insurance among their job benefits, cleanliness of hospitals is the main worry. This is closely followed by wanting to avoid waiting lists, in particular for specialist treatment. Bupa’s Ann Greenwood told The Fair Investment Company, "The rising popularity of workplace health benefits, particularly PMI, reflects changing attitudes to personal healthcare. People are now keen to have more control of their healthcare options rather than leaving them to chance."

Freedom Healthnet’s corporate health insurance policies offer such a degree of control. Employees can receive treatment in a time and place convenient to them, whether it be closer to work or home. They can be cared for in a top quality private clinic, visit their local NHS hospital or travel abroad if they wish. It’s not only workers that will benefit from a better state of health, but companies could save a significant amount of money by losing fewer days each year to sickness. In 2005, British companies lost £13 billion simply as a result of sickness.

Owners Spend More Insuring Pets than People

2008-09-12T22:48:00.004+01:00

The amount of British pets covered by a private health insurance policy is nearly double that of their owners. According to a new study by Tesco Finance, 23 per cent of domestic animals in the UK have health cover in comparison to only 12.2 per cent of their human counterparts. It is well known that Britain is a nation of animal lovers, and there are many benefits of having an insurance policy that protects our furry friends. Ewan Mc Neil, former president of the society of practicing veterinary surgeons told yourmoneyhaven.com, “I'm not surprised that pet insurance is becoming so popular - people will do everything they can to ensure the best for their pets.” But despite this, should we be looking after number one?

With the credit crunch, money is much tighter and a decision may have to be made as to whether it’s yourself or the dog that gets the private health cover. It is true that vet bills can be an unnecessary and costly expense for pet owners, however having access to top quality health care for yourself could end up being ruled out if your animal wins the battle for the health insurance policy. Patients may be subject to long NHS waiting lists and a limited choice of facilities and appointment times because they cannot afford the fees for private treatment, but this could easily be avoided with the small cost of a cash plan private health insurance policy like those offered by Freedom Healthnet. If a dilemma arises, pet owners may have to consider the cost of a vet bill in comparison to private health care for themselves.

Employers warned flu could hit this winter

2008-09-07T22:40:00.006+01:00

Three new flu strains are on their way to the UK this winter, and companies are being warned to offer vaccinations for the virus to their staff to avoid major disruptions. The new strains - A/Brisbane/59/2007 (H1N1)-like virus, A/Brisbane/10/2007 (H3N2)-like virus and B/Florida/4/2006-like virus can effectively be prevented with a simple inoculation that employers can access through their corporate health insurance. Flu is often compared to the common cold, but the illness can cause major upsets in the workplace with most people taking a week off. Even when they return, the virus leaves people very weak and production will undoubtedly be reduced. Businesses in the UK already lose millions of pounds each year due to sickness and these new strains of flu will only add to this, but the vaccination, which is effective in an estimated 70 to 90 per cent of adults, could significantly improve this.

Peter Mace is the assistant medical director at BUPA Wellness. He told Easier Finance, “Flu is one of the major reasons for short-term sickness among UK workers, and we recommend that even individuals who have received flu vaccinations previously should still be given the new vaccine to ensure they are protected from the three new strains. Any previous vaccines will not be effective in protecting against the new strains." By taking out a corporate private medical insurance policy, not only will employees have access to the new vaccine, but they will also be able to receive health care at a time and place convenient to them, should they become ill and return to work as soon as possible.

Vermin Take Over Hospitals

2008-09-05T10:44:00.012+01:00

Figures released recently have revealed that seven in ten of all NHS trusts have been forced to ask for help from pest control experts at least fifty times in a two year period. Among the vermin found in hospitals were rats, flies, cockroaches, bedbugs and fleas, according to a report from the Conservative party. Not only were the pests discovered in wards, but there were reports of infestations in operating theatres. The worst offender was Nottingham University NHS Trust who had a total of 1,070 occurrences between January 2006 and March 2008. In the most shocking incidents, maggots were found in a pair of slippers, a swarm of flies was plaguing a children’s ward and rats were found in a maternity unit. In the light of these findings, it is no surprise that an increasing number of people are opting for private medical insurance, offering access to clean and efficient facilities.

The Conservative Party and patients alike have expressed their concerns over the matter. The shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley told the BBC, “Labour have said over and over that they will improve cleanliness in our hospitals, but these figures clearly show that they are failing.” The Health Protection Agency has argued that such infestations are unlikely to directly affect patients, but a spokesman from the Patients Association did not agree and said, “Such findings are truly revolting. If these hospitals were restaurants they would be closed down and out of business."

Seven million people in the UK have already invested in a private medical insurance policy - with concerns over the cleanliness of NHS hospitals frequently given as a reason for making this decision. With a cash plan medical insurance policy, customers are given the choice as to where they receive their treatment, so they can ensure that the clinic they end up in has excellent standards, before they embark on receiving health care.

Corporate Health Insurance - Myths

2008-08-31T23:39:00.005+01:00

Corporate health insurance has many benefits for both the employer and employee, the most important of which must be losing less days to sickness each year through a generally healthier workforce. There are, however, many misconceptions about group health insurance policies that may put bosses off from investing in something that can be very worthwhile for their businesses.
One of the most common mistakes is that managers believe all health insurance policies cost the same. In fact, cost varies according to many factors, such as the general age and size of the workforce as well as the type of health cover. Cash plan medical insurance policies, like those offered by Freedom Healthnet, can work out to be more cost effective than traditional plans, and give more choice to the employee as to where they would like to receive their treatment. Many people also believe that they will have to go through the hassle of getting a referral, but in fact most health insurance companies are based on an open access system and require no referral at all.

Some business owners are led to think that they will have to use a broker in order to get the best deal for them, but this can be expensive and unnecessary. Quotes for private medical insurance are easily available online, as well as all the information a company will need to help them decide if that particular level of cover is well suited to their needs. If advice is needed, however, independent brokers are available to help for little or no cost. On the other hand, some corporations think they know everything that there is to know about private medical insurance when in fact they are missing out on vital knowledge that could save them a lot of money. The industry is constantly changing and it can be hard to keep up with the latest information, as well as running a business. It is worthwhile enquiring into latest issues and quotes regularly and taking advice from independent brokers to ensure that your company’s group health cover is both cost efficient and gives the most relevant benefits.

Private Health Insurance Attracts Employees

2008-08-22T12:04:00.005+01:00

Private medical insurance has a significant impact in helping employers attract new recruits

In a survey of 211 employers with a workforce of 675,000 people 68% of employers have highlighted private health insurance to be a useful in recruitment. Furthermore 63% agreed it improved employee motivation.

With a cost to employers of over £1 billion each year, four in ten companies now provide their whole workforce with private healthcare policies.

80% of employers believe the schemes have helped their employees returning to work more quickly after absence. Two thirds of these employers said the schemes improved performance of their staff who were suffering from a disease, illness or injury.

Corporate private medical insurance costs on average £506 per person per year. However, 61% of employers provide limited benefits to permanent employees and line managers and extend greater cover to directors and senior managers.

Source: Personnel Today

Life Saving Smear Tests May Be Phased Out

2008-08-14T11:26:00.000+01:00

Nearly 300,000 teenage girls in the UK will receive a vaccine against the virus which causes killer disease cervical cancer this autumn. The Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo, made the announcement this month, which means that girls in their final year at school will join 12 and 13 year old girls across the country taking part in the scheme in September. The vaccine protects against the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus which is thought to cause around 7 in 10 of all cervical cancer cases. The disease kills around 1,000 women every year, and the government hopes that 400 lives will be saved with the introduction of the immunisation scheme. However, some people have expressed concerns however that routine smear tests will eventually be phased out.

Currently, the NHS offers smear tests to women over the age of twenty-five, every three to five years, in order to diagnose any abnormal cells developing in the cervix, but some people are worried that women will get complacent about their visits, and that doctors will not offer the test as regularly. This is concerning, especially as around a third of all cases of the cancer are not related to the virus at all. With some private medical insurance policies, women have access to full medical health checks. Alternatively, women can opt to pay for a private smear test via a private doctor and then claim on their health insurance policies to fund treatment, if needed. Even if smear tests are eventually scaled down, ther are options for those who wish to put their minds at rest.

Routine testing as it currently stands has failed some women in the UK, even before any reduction in services. At just twenty four years old, Katie Hilliard from West Sussex, has been given two years to live after being diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer. Katie was refused a smear test on the NHS twice because she was ‘too young’. Doctors and specialists are hoping that the immunisation programme may help to lessen the numbers of cases like Katie's.

Myths of Corporate Health Insurance

2008-08-09T15:45:00.004+01:00

Corporate health insurance has many benefits to both the employer and employee, most importantly losing less days to sickness each year through a generally healthier workforce. There are however many misconceptions about group health insurance policies that may put bosses off from investing in something that can be very worthwhile for their businesses.

One of the most common mistakes is that managers believe all health insurance policies cost the same. This of course varies according to many factors, such as the general age and size of the workforce as well as the type of health cover. Cash plan medical insurance policies, like those offered by Freedom Healthnet, can work out more cost effective than traditional plans and give more choice to the employee as to where they would like to receive their treatment. Many people also believe that they will have to go through the hassle of getting a referral, but in fact most health insurance companies are based on an open access system and require no referral at all.

Some business owners are led to think that they will have to use a broker in order to get the best deal for them, but this can be expensive and unnecessary. Quotes for private medical insurance are easily available online as well as all the information a company will need to help them decide if that particular level of cover is well suited to their needs. If advice is needed, independent brokers are available to help for little or no cost. On the other hand, some corporations think they know everything that there is to know about private medical insurance when in fact they are missing out on vital knowledge that could save them a lot of money. The industry is constantly changing and it is hard to keep up with the latest information with a busy business to run. It is worthwhile enquiring into a new quote regularly and taking advice from independent brokers to ensure that the company’s group health cover is both cost efficient and gives the most relevant benefits.

Student Health Insurance

2008-07-31T23:21:00.003+01:00

September is coming round again, and many parents will be packing off their teenagers to begin their first year at university. It is a worrying time for mums and dads as they can no longer keep a watch over their youngsters. Many questions run through a parent's mind - are their children feeding themselves properly? What if they get ill? Will they know what to do? Will they get the care they need?

Moving away from home is also a big step for many young people, some of whom may have only just turned eighteen years old. They very often are unaware of how much they rely on their parents for providing meals, clean clothes and comfort when things don’t go quite as expected. Freedom Healthnet offers a specially designed health insurance policy for students which can provide that extra assurance, for both parents and teenagers, that protection is there if something unexpected does happen.

Fresher’s flu is one of the first illnesses that a student can expect to come across this autumn. Symptoms include fever, headaches and a sore throat, arising perhaps from a mixture of alcohol, the stress and excitement of moving away from home, and various types of bacteria coming together, possibly from from all over the world, to which some people will not have immunity.

Although most students should not need to seek private medical care for this cold-like illness, there are other more serious conditions, like meningitis, which can crop up. Having a student medical insurance polic y will ensure that healthcare is available if an emergency occurs, or if treatment is required for a more long term condition. With the choice offered by Freedom Healthnet, students have the choice as to whether they would like to visit a clinic close to home or to university, and if their parents are covered by a family health insurance policy they will even be able to claim treatment until they are 25 years old, if they are still in full time education.