Health insurance for young adults & working professionals

When should I get health insurance?

There is no optimum age for health insurance. If you see the benefits of health insurance, then there’s no reason that you shouldn’t consider purchasing a policy. It is, however, worth noting that your health insurance premium is likely to rise as you get older.

What’s the best health insurance for young adults?

There are several different options available to you when purchasing private health insurance. You could save money by opting for a group policy, your place of work might contribute towards the premium, or you may find that a personal policy suits your requirements the most.

Family policy

As a young adult, you may only just be finding your feet and find that you’re not quite ready to purchase your own health insurance policy. Family health insurance is an option worth exploring; members of your family can be covered under a single policy, often leading to a saving in comparison to if everyone purchased a policy individually due to the potential for a family discount being offered. You’ll have access to the same cover, subject to T&Cs, and it can be a great interim before committing to a personal policy.

Health insurance through your job

Some employees may find that their employer offers them a benefits package that includes access to a private health insurance policy. The entire workforce might be covered, and the business may cover the premium. There are many benefits for a company offering their employees private health cover; it could reduce the time employees need to recover from an illness due to access to Fast Track Appointments with a GP, as well as increase staff retention due to employees appreciating the benefit associated with their job. Employers may also find that a workforce policy helps them to attract top talent that consider healthcare an important aspect of their life.

Alternatively, you may be offered the option to partake in a voluntary health insurance scheme. This means that you can purchase a health insurance policy, with some costs being paid for by the business. It’s usually a cheaper option than if you were to take out a personal policy and pay for the premium in-full yourself.

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4 or 6 week option

If you’re conscious of the cost of your policy premium, and you’re willing to receive some treatments through the NHS, then a 4 or 6 week policy may be the right option for you. With this type of health insurance policy, if you’re able to receive treatment for a medical condition with the NHS within 4 or 6 weeks, you won’t be able to claim for private treatment through your policy provider.

Personal policy

Alternatively, if you want complete control over your inclusions, hospital list and treatment access, a personal health insurance policy may be the best option for you. Family, 4/6 week options and small business health insurance is great, but they may restrict your access to certain treatments and inclusions. Depending on your circumstances, you might find that a personal policy premium is just as competitive as other options. Get in touch, and we’ll help you find out.

Important additions to consider

When purchasing a health insurance policy, you may have the option to add additional cover for services such as dental, mental health, physiotherapy and outpatient care. Including this type of cover may lead to an increased premium, but it’s important to consider whether you’d benefit from having them.

Mental Health cover

Young adults in the UK, that being 18 - 34 year olds, are more likely to report problems with their mental health*. Mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress and addiction can have long-term implications on someone’s life. If mental health is a personal concern, it may be worthwhile considering including it within your health insurance policy. If you’re unsure and would like more information, please get in touch, and we’d be happy to talk you through what your options are.

*Source: House Of Lords, Challenges Facing Young People, 13 December 2018

Dental cover

With only an estimated 51% of adults visiting an NHS dentist in the last 24 months, there’s a large proportion of the population that aren’t undertaking the recommended care for their oral hygiene. There are a variety of dental cover options available that could cover treatments such as fillings, crowns and non-cosmetic undertakings, subject to T&Cs. If oral hygiene is important to you, including dental cover within your health insurance policy may be a cheaper option than if you were to opt for private dental care.

Physiotherapy

It may be possible to include physiotherapy treatments within your private health insurance policy. As with most optional extras, it may increase your monthly or annual premium. Physiotherapy cover can be useful if you suffer from acute injury pain in your muscles, joints or bones, or more serious conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis, subject to T&Cs.

Outpatient care

Outpatient care, that being treatment that doesn’t require you to stay overnight, is usually for diagnostic tests and consultations, but may also include some same-day treatments. If you opt for a policy that doesn’t include outpatient cover, you can use the NHS to receive treatment. In the event that a consultation or diagnostic tests lead to requiring inpatient treatment, your health insurance policy will then cover this subject to T&Cs.

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Comparing health insurance for young adults

At a younger age you are hopefully less likely to have a poor medical history. Medical history and ongoing illnesses can affect the policy available to you, limiting your options. However, as a young adult who potentially has many policy options available to them due to their good health, it can be confusing to understand which is the best for you and whether your policy is the most competitive one on the market.

No matter what type of policy you’d like to opt for, if you’re unsure about which is the best for you, we can help you to find a competitive solution for your healthcare plan.