Children are more vulnerable to diseases because their immune systems aren’t fully developed yet. Unlike adults, they also won’t be quick about noticing anything amiss with their bodies. This becomes a problem when seemingly unnoticeable pain becomes more prevalent and leads to worse conditions.
With the increasing costs of hospitalization, purchasing kids’ health insurance is vital to protect your family from expensive healthcare costs.
Child health insurance is health care coverage for individuals younger than 18 years old. It can cover simple and common childhood illnesses such as colds and other severe and uncommon diseases. It can also cover various conditions and services not covered by the National Health Service (NHS).
Like any other health insurance coverage, every policy differs from the other. So you must study the details of the policy carefully before availing one.
Why Is Children’s Health Insurance Important?
Aside from giving your kids instant access to various treatments for different diseases, having children’s health insurance has several advantages over using the NHS alone. These include:
What Is the Amount of Coverage for Children’s Health Insurance?
The amount of coverage differs depending on the provider. Additionally, the amount of coverage will be dependent on the type of insurance policy you choose. Insurance coverage may be categorized based on the following:
Inpatient Coverage
Inpatient coverage is also called a basic plan or policy. Your kid’s health insurance will only pay hospital bills if your child was admitted for treatment at the hospital overnight.
Inpatient and Outpatient Coverage
This type of policy is also called a medium plan or policy. It will not only cover admission but will also include outpatient treatment.
Comprehensive Coverage
Comprehensive coverage will cover admission or overnight hospital stay, outpatient treatment, and other additional treatments. Additional treatments may include mental health services or physiotherapy.
Aside from the types of insurance coverage mentioned above, there are other additional categories. You can contact insurance brokers for further inquiries.
What Is Generally Included in Children’s Health Insurance?
Like any adult health insurance, the following may be included on your child’s health policy:
What Is Not Covered in Children’s Health Insurance?
You should be wary about exceptions to your child’s insurance policy. Most insurance doesn’t cover:
Cost of Children’s Health Insurance
The costs usually include the following:
Monthly Premium
This is the money that needs to be paid monthly until the policy ends. Some insurance companies give an option to pay it upfront.
Excess Charge
It refers to the money you will pay for any claims you’ll make. Most of the time, a policy with a higher excess charge will have a lower monthly premium. If you cannot afford to pay the excess charge and you need to make a claim, you can choose to have a higher monthly premium.
Other factors can also affect the cost of your child’s health insurance. These are:
- Age of the child: The higher the age of your child, the higher the cost. So, it is better to have health insurance while they are younger.
Can My Kid Still Use the NHS?
Yes. Even if your child has health insurance, the NHS always provides care and services that are free for all. Moreover, there are instances when the NHS will treat diseases that are not covered by health insurance, such as pre-existing medical conditions.
Conclusion
Every parent wants their child to be as healthy as possible. However, children can get sick and suffer from unexpected conditions or diseases. Health insurance can be beneficial to prevent financial constraints when your child needs medical treatment.