SUMMARY: How does 100 per cent off the cost of next year's medical insurance premium sound? Through Prudential Insurance Company's Pruehealth this offer is a reality, we tell you how.

Cutting the cost of you medical insurance. Page 2

By Mel Varley

Health Insurance and Their Different Types: A brief intro to the topic of health insurance
Expensive health insurance? Ways to cut the cost.: The cost of health insurance has risen sharply. Re-assess your needs and there may be healthy savings to be made.
Private Medical Insurance. Finding The Right Policy for You: An excellent introduction to medical insurance
Protecting Your Health With Private Medical Insurance: Discusses some of the things you need to think about.
The Benefits of Group Health Insurance: Many UK companies offer Group Health Insurance Schemes. This article discusses the likely benefits.
Dental Insurance. Millions forced to opt for private treatment: Dentists are quitting the NHS in droves. This means that many of us will be forced to buy dental insurance. This article outlines your options.

Life Insurance News

At a time when private medical insurance seems to be thriving, the very people that need it most are starting to cancel their policies due to inflated costs. Medical inflation accounts for an 8 per cent rise in premiums per year as new drugs and diagnostic equipment cost soar.

Consumers can feel reassured by some of the latest changes on offer in a bid to address the problem. One idea is suggested by Penny O'Nions, of the specialist broker Onions Group. They have a plan which covers inpatient care only. Any private outpatient care would have to come out of your own pocket and whilst most serious illnesses such as cancer would involve hospitalisation, increasingly these are treated in outpatient facilities and therefore wouldn't be covered.

An excess on your policy (the part you will pay yourself in the event of a claim) can gain large savings in your premium. By paying an excess of £100 you could save almost 10 per cent and if you're prepared for an even bigger excess, say £2 000, you could halve the amount you pay. This effectively puts a ceiling on the costs of illness.

No claims discounts usually apply to these types of policies and you should be able to transfer these if you decide to cancel your existing policy.

As you can see, there's a vast range of options. Many people stick to the same old policies, feeling it's just not worth the effort of transferring. However, it couldn't be easier, just go to your favourite search engine, search for insurance brokers and find one which offers health insurance. They'll take your circumstances into account and find the best deal for you and there may well be the additional bonus of an on-line discount.