If I Take Out Private Health Insurance, Will I Be Able to Use a Private GP?

This is a good question Joyce, broadly speaking personal health insurance plans in the UK can be ring-fenced as either basic, mid-range or comprehensive.

The difference between these three levels of cover centres around the amount of outpatient treatment covered, unfortunately even with the most comprehensive UK medical insurance plans on our panel which would cover the full cost of any outpatient scans, test or consultations there are only a few who provide cover for Private GP services.

With most Health Insurance policies you would still need to use the NHS for GP services and then be referred on for treatment covered by your Private Health Insurance.

Some policies now provide access to a virtual GP service, allowing you to get a doctor in the palm of your hand via a smart phone app. These doctors can issue private prescriptions or refer you on for further treatment if they feel it’s warranted.

If getting private GP consultations is important to you, we suggest you compare the market carefully or, better yet, speak to one of our expert advisers and let them do all the heavy lifting.