What does Core Cover Really Mean in Health Insurance?

Core cover is an essential part of health insurance, that comes as standard with every policy. 

However, if you’re new to health insurance, it may be confusing to understand what core cover really means. We’re exploring core cover in-depth.

What is Core Cover in Health Insurance?

Simply put, core cover is the essential level of cover on a private health insurance policy, included as standard. It mainly focuses on inpatient and day patient treatment.

It’s usually the starting point, or the base level of a health insurance policy which you’ll be covered for if you do need to make a claim.

Core cover typically covers inpatient and day patient care, such as surgery and hospital stays. It does not usually include outpatient cover, and if it does, it may be limited. 

Core cover helps protect against the higher costs of private hospital treatment, while keeping monthly premiums lower. However, what’s included can vary between insurers, so it’s important to check the details carefully and understand where the limits are before choosing a policy.

It can be beneficial to compare what's on offer on each policy with an expert adviser.

What does Core Cover usually include?

As mentioned, core cover does vary by insurer, but you can expect it to cover the same similar main elements.

Inpatient Treatment

Your core cover will include inpatient treatment. This usually covers:

• Hospital stays that require at least one overnight stay
• Specialist fees such as, consultants, surgeons and anaesthetists
• Diagnostic tests and scans, such as, CT, PET or MRIs

Day Patient Treatment

You will usually also get day patient treatment included, which covers:

• Treatment or procedures that don't require an overnight stay
• Scans or minor surgical procedures
• Cancer treatments like chemotherapy
• Diagnostics (MRI, CT or PET scans)

Outpatient Treatment or Surgery

Outpatient cover isn't included with all insurers. It is cover for when you visit a hospital and return home the same day without being admitted. It may be part of the core cover in your policy, or may be limited in your core cover. Outpatient cover usually includes:

• Outpatient surgery
• Consultations
• Diagnostic scans/tests
• Some minor surgical procedures

Cancer Cover

Cancer cover is included in core cover with many of the leading UK insurers. This can include:

• Access to breakthrough treatments and drugs
• Chemotherapy and radiotherapy
  
• Targeted therapy
• Diagnosis
• Bone marrow and stem cell transplant
• Follow up monitoring and ongoing care

Digital GPs and Health Support

Nearly all of the UK’s leading health insurance providers offer a digital GP service. This is usually 24/7 and has unlimited use. Some insurers also offer health and lifestyle support services, such as counselling helplines.

Benefits of a digital GP include:

• A consultation with a qualified doctor over the phone or through a video call
• Professional medical advice, follow up consultations and prescriptions
• 24/7 appointments at a time that suits you
• Faster access to appointments
• Flexibility to take your appointment from anywhere
  

Core Cover vs Comprehensive Cover: What’s the Difference?

Core cover is what comes as standard in your health insurance policy. Comprehensive cover can be obtained by choosing add-ons or optional extras to enhance your policy and add more cover.

Core Cover Benefits

Only opting for core cover on your policy means you’ll get access to the essentials and the key elements of cover. However, it does mean you won’t be covered for things like: therapies, outpatient treatment, mental health cover and dental and optical cover.

The benefit of core cover does mean your premiums will likely be lower and you’ll pay less for peace of mind that your health is covered.

Comprehensive Cover Benefits

Choosing a comprehensive level of cover does mean your health is further protected, however, choosing optional extras will mean higher premiums. A comprehensive level of cover can include:

• Outpatient treatment, such as: routine check-ups, MRIs or X-rays and minor surgeries
• Dental and optical cover
• Enhanced mental health cover
• Travel cover
• Therapies, such as: physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic and acupuncture 

What you choose will come down to your needs, requirements and budget and what you want from a health insurance policy.

Is Core Cover Always Enough?

Whilst core cover does a great job at covering you for the basics, it may not always be enough. You may want to consider extended cover if you want:

• Extensive outpatient cover, such as: cover for consultations, specialist fees and diagnostic tests, including: X-rays, ECGs and pathology tests
• Enhanced mental health cover to include inpatient and day patient
• Therapies cover, including: physiotherapy, acupuncture and osteopathy
• Travel cover, adding cover for medical expenses abroad
• Dental and optical cover

These extras can enhance your cover to suit your individual needs.

Can you customise Core Cover?

Some health insurance providers offer the option to customise core cover, so it’s more tailored to your needs and requirements. Some things you could customise include:

• Adding outpatient cover in full, limiting it or removing it.
•  Your excess - a higher excess means lower premiums, whilst a lower excess means higher premiums. You'll need to consider what's affordable if you did need to make a claim.
• Hospital lists - you have control over where you’re treated and whom by. You may opt for a list which includes London hospitals, which will be more expensive. There is also the option for a guided hospital list, which means your insurer chooses where you're treated and with which specialist, which can lower your premium.
  

Core cover can be customisable and you can tailor your policy to suit you.

Core cover can be a cost-effective choice, to have affordable cover and peace of mind that your health is protected. However, it's important to fully understand the limits of this cover and what is and isn't included.

It's always worth comparing policies carefully, to ensure your health insurance cover is right for you. Comparing can be a long, confusing process alone. Our health insurance experts are ready to help you through the process. 

They'll do all the hard work of comparing for you, fully explaining your policy ins and outs and leave you confident in your cover. The service is completely free of charge, with no obligation. Get in touch with our expert team today: 01285 864670