Health insurance gives you some extra peace of mind when it comes to your health. For a monthly or annual premium, it will meet some or all of the cost of conditions covered by your policy. Sometimes called private medical insurance, it can give you access to consultations, tests and treatments for covered conditions, often sooner than the NHS can deliver.

The great thing about private health insurance is that it works hand in hand with the NHS. You’ll still have the option to use NHS services whenever you need them, such as for emergencies and chronic conditions. But, depending on the condition, health insurance can speed things up and open the door to more choice and more comfortable facilities.

You can personalise your cover to suit your needs. Whether it’s just for you, you and your partner, or the whole family, there’s a policy to match. Many plans include fast-track diagnostics and outpatient treatments, while others go further with extras like mental health support or physiotherapy. Some policies even offer access to treatments or medicines that might not be available on the NHS due to funding restrictions.

Health insurance isn’t for everyone, all of the time. We want to make sure you understand what is and isn’t covered, so please read the details of any policy you are considering. For example, as with other types of insurance, some conditions won’t be covered. Pre-existing, chronic or incurable conditions like diabetes and asthma are often excluded, along with pregnancy, emergency care and cosmetic surgery.

Also, you may already have health insurance through your employer, so there might be no need to take out a separate policy. However, this may be for you as an individual and it might not cover your family. Bear that in mind if you are looking for family health insurance.

The bottom line is that private health insurance can be a great fit for you, but it does have its limitations. And of course, it isn’t a replacement for the NHS, but a level of extra care that works alongside the NHS. That said, millions of people love the fact that they have access to the extra level of care that only health insurance can bring.