Medical cover is another term used to describe private medical insurance, it is designed to cover the cost of medical treatment. There are different types of medical cover available, policies are designed to suit different individuals and offer different levels of cover, ranging from basic cover to comprehensive cover for older people and people who have pre-existing health conditions.

Types of cover

There are many different types of medical cover available, including:

●      Packages: packages are usually designed to cater for the needs of the ‘average’ family, offering comprehensive cover for all members of the family but they will usually have limits and exceptions. Most providers have a range of different packages to choose from with different price brands offering different levels of cover. If you pay more, you get more comprehensive cover, as a general rule. Some packages will come with additional benefits including dental care, GP discounts, pregnancy care and discounts at gyms and health centres.

●      Limited cover: limited cover is a low-budget option, which covers basic medical care. Many people have limited cover plans, as they rely on the NHS for the majority of their medical treatment.

●      Cover for people aged over 50: many insurance policies only cover people up to the age of 50, some cover up to 65 and some cover people of all ages. There are some insurance providers, such as Saga who cater especially for the over 50’s.

●      Choice of cover: choice of cover policies enable people to choose what is covered by their policy. Most providers offer a core policy, which is then added to in order to give the individual more comprehensive cover.

●      Specialist policies: there are several different specialist policies which cater for unusual or uncommon cases and scenarios; for example winter sports cover, extreme sports cover, forces cover and self-pay protection plans.

Critical illness cover

Critical illness cover covers serious illnesses and many policies will also pay out in the event that an individual dies. Critical illness cover includes serious illnesses, such as:

●      Cancer

●      Heart attack

●      Alzheimer’s disease

●      Blindness

●      Deafness

●      Liver failure

●      Dementia

●      Motor Neurone disease

●      Parkinson’s disease

●      Stroke

Health insurance, also known as medical insurance, is insurance that covers medical treatment. Different policies offer different levels of cover, if you pay more you usually get a more comprehensive policy. Many people get health insurance through their employer but there are many different policies available for individuals and family groups.

Do I need health insurance?

Many people in the UK do not have health insurance because treatment on the NHS is free of charge and accessible to everyone. In some countries you have to have insurance to get medical treatment but that is not the case in the UK. Although the NHS covers a huge range of treatments and therapies, not all procedures and treatments are covered by the NHS and therefore it may be necessary to have private care, for example, if you want to have gastric band surgery, the NHS may not provide this service and you will be advised to go to a private hospital. Private medical insurance is also beneficial because there is often a shorter waiting list at private hospitals and hospitals tend to be nicer and more modern than NHS hospitals. You will probably get a private room with an en-suite bathroom at a private hospital and you will usually be able to choose the hospital you go to and the consultant who treats you.

It is up to you whether you take out a health insurance policy or not, it is not essential in this country but it may come in useful if you do become ill and you want to have private healthcare instead of NHS care, for  example if there is a long waiting list for treatment on the NHS.

It may also be worth considering additional add-ons to your health insurance policy, such as optical and dental care.

Which policy should I choose?

There are so many health insurance policies out there that it can be very hard to choose one policy; here are some tips for choosing a policy:

●      Shop around: get some quotes from different companies, telephone and ask about offers and incentives and use comparison websites to see what each company offers for the money you are willing to pay.

●      Choose a reputable company: it is a good idea to go with a well-known company with a solid reputation.

●      Read the small print: make sure that your policy covers everything you want it to; if you already have health problems or you want additional cover for sports, for example, make sure your policy covers this.

●      See a financial adviser: they will be able to advise you which policy best suits your requirements

In the UK the majority of patients are treated by the National Health System (the NHS), however, there are also many private hospitals and clinics. There are advantages and disadvantages of both the NHS and private healthcare.

Advantages of the NHS

The NHS is an incredible organisation, which provides free medical care to millions of people in the UK every day. Unlike in other countries, such as the USA, it is not necessary to have medical insurance in order to get treatment from a hospital or clinic, anyone who walks into a surgery can be treated for free by the NHS. The NHS also provides a huge amount of other services, aside from basic medical care, including dental services, sight and hearing services, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and counselling, to name just a few.

Disadvantages of the NHS

In recent years, pressure on the NHS has increased significantly, conditions such as obesity, incidents related to alcohol and smoking and serious health conditions such as cancer and heart disease are costing the NHS billions of pounds a year and services and staff are under increasing strain. The NHS, along with many other departments and services, is in a huge amount of debt and cuts are currently being made to try and reduce the deficit. Increased pressure on the NHS means that some patients have to wait for treatment, additionally some treatments and procedures are also not available on the NHS. NHS hospitals are usually not as nice as private hospitals and there are few private rooms.

Advantages of private healthcare

Private healthcare has many advantages over NHS care but private medical insurance can be very expensive. Private hospitals are often smaller, quieter and more attractively furnished and decorated and they have private rooms rather than wards. Private healthcare can often be provided much quicker than NHS care, as waiting lists are much shorter. Patients also have greater choice of which hospital they go to and which doctor they see.

Disadvantages of private healthcare

The major disadvantage of private healthcare is the cost, a procedure or course of treatment that is free on the NHS could cost thousands of pounds if you choose to have private treatment. Some experts also suggest that some private staff do not have the experience and expertise of NHS staff but this may be a matter of opinion. Some treatments and procedures may also not be available at private clinics and hospitals and coordinating care between different departments may be more difficult than in NHS hospitals.

As we get older our skin changes. It starts to wrinkle, loses its natural plumpness and looks less radiant. Signs of ageing start to appear at different times and at different rates. Some people do not develop signs of ageing until they are in their 40’s or even their 50’s, while others will start to experience changes in their skin during their late twenties and thirties.

What happens when the skin ages?

When we get older, our skin starts to lose its elasticity and as a result of this fine lines and wrinkles start to appear and the skin starts to sag. These signs of ageing result from a loss of collagen. As the skin gets older, the networks of fibres, elastin and collagen, become disconnected and the speed of new cell production is slower. This means that the old cells stay around for longer and this creates a dull, grey appearance to the skin.

What causes skin ageing?

Skin ageing is part and parcel of getting older, but there are additional factors that can influence the rate and extent of skin ageing. These factors include:

• sun exposure
• smoking
• environmental factors
• diet

Tips for keeping skin looking youthful

The skin lasts forever but there are steps you can take to protect your skin and keep it looking healthy, glowing and youthful for as long as possible:

• Drink plenty of water: water helps to keep the skin hydrated, which will make it look clear, healthy and radiant.
• Get plenty of sleep: we all know the effects of having no sleep on our skin, just from looking at the skin after a night out.
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet: eating plenty of fruit and vegetables provides the skin with important nutrients, vitamins and minerals and will help to keep it looking and feeling smooth and bright.
• Adopt a good daily cleansing routine: use a cleanser that suits your skin type; wash your face daily and use an exfoliator once a week to remove dead skin cells.
• Moisturise: it is important to keep your skin hydrated and moist; use a cream that suits that your skin type; if you have sensitive skin, avoid using creams that are perfumed.
• Protect your skin from the sun: a bit of sunlight is beneficial for the skin but make sure you wear sun cream when you go out in the sun. Experts recommend wearing a minimum sun screen of factor 15; if you have fair skin, use a higher factor.
• Avoid smoking: smoking ages the skin and makes it look dull and saggy.
• Cut down on drinking: drinking often leads to dehydration, which makes the skin look dull and can make it feel dry and rough.

Anti-ageing treatments

There are myriad anti-ageing treatments available now, from inexpensive lotions and potions and boutique creams to cosmetic treatments and surgical procedures. There is some scepticism amongst experts and on website forums and medical blogs surrounding many of the cheaper products but they may be worth trying if you are on a tight budget. Cosmetic anti-ageing treatments, such as fillers and Botox have been proven to reduce the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles and surgery has more dramatic effects. However, some people are uncomfortable with the idea of having more invasive, drastic treatments.