Health insurance is used to cover medical and surgical expenses in the event of an individual's illness or injury. In the UK this means private medical care other than that provided by the NHS.
The health insurance payments will be determined by the insurer depending on your age, known conditions and lifestyle.
Some conditions may not be covered by private health insurance in the UK, such as pregnancy and childbirth, ageing, learning difficulties, allergies, birth control & sexual problems, eyesight and weight loss treatment.
Private Health or Medical Insurance in the UK is often used as a top-up to the NHS, or to replace it. It is not a necessity but an extra cover that may make diagnosis and treatment quicker, with better surroundings, such as a private en-suite room, or more convenient consultations and treatment times.
Most private medical insurance will only cover illness or injury arising in the future. If you can afford insurance it gives you more peace of mind if anything should happen to you.
Health insurance quotes can be obtained from a number of companies such BUPA, AXA and PruHealth, and a search on the internet will find a number of others providing private medical insurance.
There are some comparison websites that will help you compare the cover, benefits and costs of various companies.