As our loved ones age, ensuring they receive quality healthcare becomes a priority. However, as we all know, understanding the complexities of healthcare systems can be overwhelming.
Our guide to self-pay and health insurance for elderly parents is designed to help you unpick the puzzle of healthcare costs and get fast treatment for your ageing parent or relative.
What’s the best health insurance for elderly parents in the UK?
The answer to this lies entirely on subjectivity and which provider can provide cover.
At Practice Plus Group, our approved insurers include:
- Aviva
- AXA Health
- The Exeter
- Freedom Health Insurance
- General & Medical Healthcare
- Healix Health Services
- VitalityHealth
- WPA
What to look for
Comparing different insurance plans, understanding the coverage offered, and carefully reviewing terms and conditions are essential steps when selecting a policy.
You should:
- Consider private medical insurance plans specifically designed for seniors. These plans may offer added benefits like faster consultations and private hospital stays along with coverage for elective procedures
- Look for health insurance plans that include dental and optical coverage. These areas are often not fully covered by the NHS
- Consider long-term care insurance to cover expenses related to assisted living, nursing homes, or in-home care.
How it works at Practice Plus Group
If your parent has their own private health insurance, insured patients can receive expert hospital treatment at any one of our hospitals around the UK.
The first step is to get a referral from your parent’s GP. Then you will need to call their insurance company to confirm the treatment is covered. You will need their referral details and insurance number to do this. You will then be given a pre-authorisation number that you can quote when you call our patient advisor team.
Once everything is agreed, we can book your parent in for an initial consultation. During this session, you’ll have the opportunity to discuss treatment options. Any diagnostic tests required will be carried out.
What is self-pay surgery?
Self-pay gives you or your parent the option to pay for their treatment themselves.
Whether it’s for a consultation, diagnostic imaging, treatment, or surgical procedures, our self-pay option is available to anyone who can cover the cost of private surgery themselves.
The benefits of self-pay for ageing parents
- rapid access to surgery within 4-6 weeks
- ability to choose the hospital for your elderly parent’s surgery or treatment
- ability to choose the consultant for their treatment
- ability to choose when they receive their treatment
- if the treatment they need isn’t available on the NHS.
How it works at Practice Plus Group
In most instances, you won’t need to go through your parent’s GP for a referral. Instead, you can refer them to us. Contact us by using the form on our website or by giving our team a call on 0330 822 6525.
A pre-operative review, any prescriptions and dressings, anaesthetic and hospital stays are all included in the price of the treatment. An initial consultation costing £95 is the next step to decide the right treatment, before scheduling the surgery at a time and place that suits you.
If your parent is paying for themselves, they will need to pay for treatment seven days prior. With the finance payment option available, you can spread the cost of treatment using our interest free and low APR finance options.
Plan for the future
Help ensure that your loved ones receive the care they need in their later years.
On average, we carry out 5,000 treatments a month and have excellent ratings for hip and knee replacement surgery with specialised consultants around the country.
If your parent needs private healthcare, don’t delay. Get in touch now to hear more about self-pay treatment options.
Health cover for elderly patients: FAQs
Got more questions? Our dedicated self pay and health insurance FAQS might be able to help.
This will depend on the specific rules of your insurance broker and healthcare plan.
Yes, it is possible for an 80-year-old to get private health insurance. However, the availability and cost of coverage may vary based on policies, health status, and type of coverage. It might be worth seeking a specialised plan for older individuals as some standard insurance plans can have upper age limits.
The monthly premiums for adults over 65 vary depending on the provider, location, age, and your parent’s medical history.
It is common for health insurance premiums to rise as we age. This is because as we get older, we are more likely to have chronic conditions that require medical treatment.
Other aspects such as pre-existing conditions, medical history, lifestyle choices, and the chosen level of cover can also contribute to the overall cost.