Avoid Lengthy NHS Waiting Lists
Choose Your Preferred Hospital and Consultant
Enjoy Private, En-Suite Hospital Accommodation
Health Insurance, also known as Private Medical Insurance, or PMI, covers the private treatment cost of treatable illnesses and injuries.
With Private Medical Insurance you avoid long NHS queues and get to choose your own hospital and consultant, where you will receive top treatment from the comfort of your own en-suite hospital room.
With our easy Health Insurance comparison, you'll be able to find the ideal policy to suit your needs in minutes. Get peace of mind today by starting your quote.
Cover for children varies more than you might expect - insurers set different age limits for dependants, and mental health support, dental add-ons and family discounts aren't consistent across the market. Comparing quotes helps you find a policy that actually fits your child's needs, whether that's a teenager heading to university or a younger child who needs ongoing physiotherapy, without paying for extras you don't need.
One of the major benefits of private healthcare is that you'll be able to avoid lengthy NHS waiting lists when you do need treatment
You'll get to choose to be treated at your preferred hospital, and to be seen by your preferred consultant.
If you do have to stay in hospital overnight, you'll have a nice, clean room all to yourself to stay in.
The price of a child's policy is shaped by a number of factors, including your child's age, their general health, and the level of cover you choose. Adding optional extras, such as cover for treatment abroad, can also increase the premium.
There are many policies out there and its important to understand what is covered, any exclusions and the price of all policies before taking them out. Ways to keep the cost of your child private medical insurance down include:
Paying a higher excess will bring down the cost of your premium. However, be mindful of this cost should you need to make a claim.
Reducing your chosen hospital list. Cutting down your choice of private hospitals might lower your premium or get you a discount but narrows down your choices for treatment should you need treatment.
Adding a ‘six-week clause’ – some policies only let you claim if you can’t get the same treatment on the NHS within six weeks. This could help you get a cheaper premium.
Alternatively, you can buy a family policy and add your children on. This could work out cheaper than insuring everyone individually, so it’s worth comparing
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Child private medical insurance covers children typically up to 18 years old. Some insurers extend this to age 21, or as high as 24, if your child remains in full-time education, so it's worth checking the age limit on any policy you're considering. Taking out private medical insurance can allow your child to be seen and treated more quickly, potentially avoiding long NHS waiting lists. Different types of cover available include:
- Inpatient-only plans - these only cover your child for treatment in a hospital.
- Plans that include outpatient treatment - these more comprehensive plans will also cover private care for your child as an outpatient.
Private medical cover isn't a replacement for the NHS and your child can certainly still access their care for free. Depending on what level of cover you take out, basic policies will cost less but may only cover inpatient treatment. However, a more expensive comprehensive private medical insurance policy could cover:
- Inpatient treatment- specialist treatment options that are not available through the NHS
- Private accommodation - including accommodation for parents of children under 16 so you can stay with your child or nearby
- Outpatient care including follow up tests, scans, etc.
- Physiotherapy
- Advice
- Mental health support, such as access to counselling or therapy for conditions including anxiety and depression, though the specifics vary by provider
Add ons may also be available which would cover:
- Dental care
- Eye care
- Physiotherapy
- Homeopathy
- Mental health support
Bear in mind that basic dental and eye care for children is often already available through the NHS, so it's worth checking what you're likely to actually use before adding these as extras.
For a full list of exclusions, click here.
It's important to check the T&C’s of any policy you are about to take out. Many private medical insurance policies for children will have exclusions such as:
Pre-existing conditions (you may need to sign a declaration or have you child undergo a health check)
Chronic conditions like diabetes or arthritis
Kidney dialysis
Organ transplants
Injuries caused by dangerous sports or activities
Hearing aids
Mobility aids
Cosmetic treatment
It's important to note that you can't go private for everything. For example, A&E trips are not covered but the NHS will be able to treat your child on these occasions.
1. Visit your GP, who can refer you to a specialist if needed.
2. Let your insurer know you'd like to make a claim - they'll confirm whether the treatment is covered under your policy.
3. If it's covered, your insurer arranges for the cost to be settled directly with the hospital or specialist, though you may need to pay any excess, either upfront or when your insurer bills you afterwards.
Read our full making a medical insurance claim guide for more detail.
It depends on your circumstances and priorities. Private cover can mean faster access to specialists and a choice of hospital, but it's an added cost on top of the NHS care your child is already entitled to. Many parents weigh this up alongside how quickly they'd want treatment for non-urgent issues.
Not usually. Most insurers will still cover your child as a dependant even if they live at a different address, for example if they're away at university or living with another parent, as long as they're still classed as your dependant.
You may be able to do either. Some insurers offer standalone child-only cover, while others only let you add your child to an existing individual or family policy. Availability varies between providers, so this is worth checking when you compare quotes.
It depends on the insurer and the type of policy. Some will ask you to complete a health declaration about your child's medical history, while others may ask for a medical examination before offering cover, particularly for more comprehensive policies.
This varies by insurer, but most cover children up to 18 or 21, with some extending to 24 if your child is in full-time education. It's worth checking the exact age limit before you buy, especially if your child is heading off to university.
