Every parent wants to make the best decision for their child – education, health, and well-being. With the current inflation in healthcare expenses, getting healthcare coverage for your child is no longer an option but a necessity to protect you from unforeseen medical circumstances.
By getting a health insurance plan that caters to your child’s specific needs, you lower the financial risks of medical emergencies and know that even if something happens, your child will get the medical care they need. Read on to learn more about health insurance for children.
What is Child Only Health Insurance?
Child-only health insurance is a policy that caters to children’s medical bills and some preventative care. You can get health insurance for children through the NHS or medical insurance brokers in the UK.
Do I Need Health Insurance For My Kids?
Health insurance for children has many advantages. Apart from your child having access to regular hospital checkups, it also lowers the costs of hospital visits, treatments, and other medical services.
Here are some reasons why your child needs health insurance:
- Seasonal illnesses: As children’s immune system develops, they are susceptible to developing some diseases. At the same time, this may, in most cases, not be something serious, and prompt medical attention is needed.
- Accidents and emergencies: Kids are unpredictable; they can get involved in unexpected accidents or sports-related injuries.
- Pre-existing health conditions require ongoing treatment and medications, though it’s only a few insurance policies that cover pre-existing health conditions.
- Regular preventative care: Including immunizations to keep your kid healthy and hearty.
What Does Child Health Insurance Cover?
Children’s health insurance policies typically cover:
- Hospitalization fees: These cover costs for treating your child in case of hospitalization lasting more than 24 hours. This will include costs of room stay, ICU (if needed), nursing charges, and prescription medications.
- Neonatal cover: Health insurance for newborn babies covers neonatal bills. This can also be covered if the mother’s insurance covers maternity benefits.
- Vaccination bills: Kid’s health insurance also covers all the vaccination bills for your child from the first year. This also is covered in some mother’s health insurance policies.
- Outpatient expenses: Doctor visits and treatments that don’t last up to 24 hours are also covered.
- Pediatric services: Including dental and oral care.
- Mental health services: Including psychotherapy, counseling, and substance disorder.
On the other hand, health expenses incurred due to the treatment of the following aren’t covered in most health insurance policies:
- Injuries sustained when participating in sports.
- Pre-existing health conditions
- Personality and behavioral disorders
- Congenital disorders
- Injuries sustained due to war and warlike situations.
Steps to use Child Health Insurance
In the UK, child health insurance is typically covered by the NHS, which provides free healthcare services to kids. However, some parents opt for private health insurance for their children to get quicker access to treatment. Here’s how to use either of the services:
Using NHS Services:
- Find a local GP through the NHS website and register your child. You must provide proof of address and your child’s NHS number.
- Your GP will provide you with a routine schedule for visitations and vaccination.
- Also, if your child needs to see a specialist, your GP will refer you to the appropriate NHS specialists, whether a pediatrician, surgeon, etc.
- If your child needs dental care, you must register with an NHS dentist. Dental care is free for all under 18.
- Also, if your child needs mental health support, your GP will refer you to Child and Adolescents Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
Using a private health insurance service:
- Compare different private health insurance providers like Bupa, Vitality, and others. Factors to remember include the child’s need, the cost of premiums, and how comprehensive the coverage is. If you’re finding it hard to choose the right insurer, Premier PMI https://premierpmi.co.uk/private-health-insurance-for-children/ can help.
- After choosing the insurer that suits your needs, complete the application process and provide the necessary documentation, including your child’s details and medical history. Don’t forget to go through their terms and conditions.
- Use your insurer’s provider’s network to find private GPs, specialists, and hospitals—book appointments through your insurance provider when needed.
How to Claim Health Insurance For a Child
To claim health insurance for a child, here are the steps to follow:
- Inform your insurer: Notify your insurance company about the need to claim as soon as possible.
- Pre-authorization for cashless claims: If your child’s undergoing a cashless treatment, ensure you get a pre-authorization from your insurer by submitting the necessary documents to the clinic’s insurance office.
- Get the necessary documents: Ensure you gather all the required documents, from hospital bills to prescriptions, discharge summaries, and any other relevant paperwork.
- Submit claim form: Fill out and submit the form with the required documents to your insurer.
- Follow up: Regularly follow up with your insurance provider to know the status of your claim request.
- Claim settlement: Once your request is approved, your insurer will either settle the claim by reimbursing the expenses or paying directly to the hospital if it’s a cashless claim.