Until What Age Can Children Remain on a Family Health Insurance Plan?
Question asked by Joanne Summers
I am coming to the UK to study and have been told for my visa I require Comprehensive Sickness Insurance, what do I need to take out to meet this requirement and how much will it cost?
Many thanks for your question, there are many people in a very similar situation to yourself.
When applying for a visa many individuals are required to show proof of ‘Comprehensive Sickness Insurance‘.
Now our understanding of this is that the individual is required to show proof of an insurance policy which would cover them in most eventualities should they require any medical treatment, removing the burden from the NHS and allowing them to receive this treatment privately.
A personal Health Insurance plan will tend to be made up of two key components: inpatient treatment and outpatient treatment. Where you can expect most Medical Insurance plans to cover inpatient and day-patient treatment in full (treatment where you would occupy a hospital bed) the level of outpatient treatment can vary wildly.
A true comprehensive health insurance policy will not only provide cover for inpatient treatment in full; it will also cover any outpatient treatment in full.
Outpatient treatment includes diagnostic tests, scans and consultations. All of the leading UK health insurers offer some form of comprehensive cover, although they can still vary quite considerably in the policy coverage so do ensure you read the policy terms. The devil is in the detail.
Although given the level of cover required premiums tend to come in at the top end, as with any health insurance plan there are ways to contain costs such as including an excess or limiting your hospital list. If you require guidance or want to understand more of the options available please do not hesitate to give us a call or send us an email.
The below is taken from the UK Border Agency’s own guidance on what they accept as a form of evidence in order to demonstrate comprehensive sickness insurance.
“A comprehensive insurance policy document confirming that the applicant has private medical insurance. A proportionate approach should be taken when considering what is ‘comprehensive’. For example, a policy may contain certain exemptions but if the applicant is covered by the policy for medical treatment in the majority of circumstances then this will be sufficient.”