More and more of us are losing faith in the NHS and turning to private medical insurance (PMI) as a necessary alternative, rather than a luxury.

We are all becoming familiar with the term ‘NHS postcode lottery’ – a phrase used to describe the gap in the standard of public health services provided across the UK. PMI and health insurance has evolved as a way to guarantee top medical attention when you need it, no matter where you live.

PMI is one of the fastest growing forms of insurance and is no longer reserved for the very wealthy. Independent financial advisers (IFAs) can help you find PMI or health insurance cover that will not break the bank.

Budget health insurance policies normally cover in-patient treatment only, while mid and top range health insurance policies cover day-patient treatment and out-patient treatment - but even basic insurance cover should include payment of medical fees, hospital charges, treatments plus home nursing and out-patient care, ideally.

One of the main benefits of PMI and health insurance is being able to avoid long NHS waiting lists and to have a greater degree of control over the time and date of treatment – and even the specialist you see – although health insurance policies tend to cover curable short-term illness or injury only and not chronic illness or pre-existing conditions.

Dental treatment is also often not included in PMI or health insurance policies, but can be taken out separately as a way to offset the increasing costs charged by dentists and lack of NHS treatment available. Dental insurance is available as capitation plans (covering routine maintenance work) and insurance policies (covering specific treatment and emergency treatment), or a hybrid of the two.

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