Private Insurance for Children | Usay Compare

Child Health Insurance policies give the ultimate reassurance that should any of your family become unwell, you have access to the best possible treatment and medicines with the minimum delay. No one wants to think about the prospect of a child being seriously unwell, but if they were, you would want to be able to offer them the best treatment and care - without the wait.

As with an individual Health Insurance policy, there are many different options of insurers and policies to consider. Children have the added option of holding an individual policy of their own, or being added to a parent’s policy as a dependent.

Here at Usay Compare our advisers are on the end of the phone to offer free expert advice, compare policies and find you the best price policies available for you.

What Is Child Health Insurance?

Child Health Insurance is an insurance policy which covers the cost of private medical care, should your child ever require it. It provides the peace of mind that potentially expensive private treatments and care would be covered by the insurance policy. Private medical treatment means access to the very best treatments, hospitals and consultants, with the minimal waiting times and in superior comfort.

How Does Child Health Insurance Work?

You can either take out an individual policy for your child, or you can add them to your own policy as a dependent. Often it is a better value option to add your child to your own policy, but this varies with the individual’s own requirements and you should always compare the options. Our advisers are always happy to talk you through your individual requirements.

What Does It Cover?

All Health Insurance policies intend to return the policyholder to the same state of health as when they took out the policy. They are intended to cover things that are treatable and can be recovered from, such as leukaemia or appendicitis. Usually most policies will include the following within their core cover though:

Inpatient and day patient treatments
Some outpatient cover (this is variable depending upon your choices)
Cancer cover
Digital and/or telephone-based GP and health support

Benefits Specific to Children

There are some benefits to health insurance policies which are specific to families and worth comparing:

Benefit	Details
Newborn Cash Benefit	Some insurers will pay a one-off cash benefit on the birth (or adoption) of a child. Usually you would need to be covered for a limited period before the baby is born to receive the benefit.
Parent Accommodation	Some policies will cover the cost of accommodation for you to stay near your child whilst they are receiving eligible inpatient treatment in a hospital included in your plan.
Corrective Ear Surgery	Most insurers will offer procedures to correct prominent ears for children under the age of 14.
Laser Treatment	Most insurers will cover procedures to remove or improve the appearance of birthmarks such as ‘port wine stain’ on the child’s face, for children under the age of 14.
Speech Therapy	A set number of sessions are usually available with a speech therapist, when there is a delay in the child’s development.

Digital GPs

Digital GPs aren’t specific to child Health Insurance – but they are worth mentioning as one of the most valued benefits for parents. They can put your mind at rest for those occasions you are concerned about your child’s health, but attending a doctor’s surgery in person isn’t practical. Digital GPs offer prompt and convenient access to medical advice, some even have 24 hour access from anywhere in the world. Many of the providers offer same day appointments which can be incredibly reassuring. They can usually provide advice as they would in person, as well as providing prescriptions and referrals if necessary.

Cancer Cover

Cancer cover is usually included within the core cover of all policies. It is one of the most valuable benefits of Health Insurance policies; according to Macmillan’s latest research, cancer is the disease we fear the most in the UK. Health Insurance allows you the peace of mind that should one of your family be affected by the disease you can have access to breakthrough cancer treatments and superior comfort and choice throughout treatment. It is important to compare cancer cover between policies as what is included within the core cover can vary. However, most policies will include the following within the core cover:

radiotherapy
chemotherapy
surgery
consultants’ fees
out-patient treatment
home nursing
cash benefits if treated by the NHS

If You Have Child Health Insurance, Can They Still Access the NHS?

Health Insurance works in conjunction with the NHS to complement it and maximise the treatments available and the comfort in which you receive them. As a nation we are lucky to benefit from a publicly funded health service, giving everyone access to treatment at little to no cost. However, the NHS is under increasing pressure and many people now face long waiting lists and delayed or cancelled treatments.

Access to private medical care means you can avoid the long waiting lists for treatment, in fact you are likely to be seen within a week or so. Health Insurance offers your child access to a choice of hospitals and treatment times that suit you, with overnight stays normally in a private, en-suite room. Some policies will provide allowance for parents to stay in nearby accommodation as well if necessary.

Definition Of Dependent Child For Family Health Insurance

The age at which a child is defined as a dependent on your Health Insurance policy can vary between insurers. Some will class any child still living at home as a dependent, whereas others will have a maximum age, often 21 years. Some policies will allow children up to 24 to be covered as a dependent if they are still in full time education. It is important to consider the terms and conditions regarding this – as it could have a considerable impact on overall value.

Most policies allow new-born babies to be added to the policy straight away from their date of birth. Usually, they are not required to be medically underwritten.

How Much Is Child Health Insurance?

Policy prices vary depending on some key factors – these fit into two categories:

Circumstances (your postcode, ages and current health)
Level of cover (the optional benefits you choose - for example level of outpatient cover)

These variables mean premiums can vary, but for a quick, no obligation quote, you can fill in the form below.

Aviva

Aviva offer a family cover benefit – whereby if you pay for the eldest child under 20 to be added to the policy, all other children under 20 will be covered. First-borns also get up to 3-months free cover from their date of birth with Aviva’s Healthier Solutions policy.

AXA

AXA offer free cover for new-borns and enhanced family and children’s health insurance (available until the next plan renewal and cover limitations may apply). Support from qualified midwifes with Health at Hand before or after your baby is born.

Bupa

Bupa will pay for each night a parent needs to stay in hospital with their child - if the child is covered under the health insurance policy and is under 16 years of age.

Freedom

Freedom offer a maternity cash benefit of £150 per child. They offer accommodation for a parent accompanying a child under 18 years of age and they cover pregnancy complications miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and emergency C-section.

Vitality

Vitality offer a £100 cash benefit on the birth (or adoption) of a child. They include parent accommodation cover to stay with the child while they are receiving eligible treatment. They also include pregnancy complications in their core cover for things like miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy.

Why Compare Health & Life Insurance with us?

Here at Usay Compare, we can help you to compare prices and cover from the market leading UK health and life insurance companies such as Aviva, AXA and Bupa. Our service is completely free of charge and we are totally independent and impartial.

Our team of friendly, expert advisers are on the end of the phone, ready to guide you easily through the whole process. They will get to know your unique individual requirements, do all the hard work comparing prices and policies for you; then advise on the best and most cost-effective quote.