Compare Health Insurance For Children

Can I get private health insurance for my child?

MoneySuperMarket allows you to compare a range of children's health insurance providers and policies from right across the market, giving you peace of mind that your child's needs and wellbeing will be prioritised, avoiding NHS waiting lists in some instances.

You can choose child health insurance as part of a family health insurance policy as long as they're aged under 18, or up to 24 if they're in full-time education.

Get your child referred to a GP

If you think your child has a health problem, you'd first visit a GP or health provider and ensure they know you have private cover. If required, they'll refer you to a specialist. You may have the option to choose private hospitals or non-NHS specialists
Tell your insurer

From here, you'll need to inform your child health insurance provider you want to make a claim. At this point, they'll tell you if you're covered for this claim. If you are, the insurer will approve it
Insurer covers the cost

Your appointment will be booked by your GP. And as long as your cover is active, your child health insurance provider will cover the cost. But note that you may be asked to pay an excess, depending on the details of your policy

What does child's health insurance cover?

The level of coverage your child will get from a private health insurance policy will depend on the type of policy you take out for them. Many providers offer cover in the following categories:

Basic: Taking out basic cover means your insurer will pay out for claims relating to treatment and any associated costs when your child is admitted to hospital
Medium: Medium cover includes everything basic cover does, plus support for outpatient treatment costs
Comprehensive: A comprehensive health insurance policy usually covers basic and medium costs, as well as physiotherapy and mental health treatment for your child's wellbeing

Your child's age

Although it's not as important as when calculating the cost of cover for adults, your child's age will be a factor in calculating your premiums
Your excess level

The higher your excess, the more you'll contribute towards your healthcare costs. In turn, the the lower your premiums will be
Your child's medical history

If your child has existing or long-term health issues, such as asthma, your insurer is likely to charge a higher premium
Where you live

If you live in an expensive part of the world, your cover could be more expensive too

Our expert says…

The NHS is the jewel in our crown. But long waiting times are more frequent than we'd all like. Child health insurance can help you get fast, effective treatment for your child, alongside specialist advice. It can also cover the cost of specialist drugs that may not be available on the NHS and ensure your child gets privacy and comfort if they require a stay in hospital.

Sam Meadows Insurance Expert

It's quick and easy

We make it simple to compare different health insurance plans in one place. Just enter your information once and get quotes from multiple insurers
Save money

Comparing a range of plans and insurers can help you find lower premiums and more comprehensive cover. So you get more for your money
Quotes tailored to you

We'll give you a quote based on your individual needs and preferences. Simply tell us a few personal details and we'll do the rest

Take time to compare

Comparing a range of child health cover lets you know what's on offer. So you can get the right policy at the right price.
Increase your excess

Opt to pay more excess and insurers could read this a sign that you'll only claim when you really need to. In turn, you could benefit from lower premiums.
Trim your cover

If you're not sure that your child really requires some parts of the policy, consider removing them. That should ensure you only pay for what you need
Cut your hospital options

Trimming the number of hospitals where your policy allows you to receive private healthcare treatment can help cut the cost of cover.
Choose a six-week option

A six-week option means you're agreeing that rather than claim on your policy, you'll use the NHS if it can deliver inpatient or day patient treatment within six weeks of referral
Co-pay any claims

Some policies give you the option of paying a portion of your claim on top of your excess. This is called co-paying and can result in lower premiums

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Personal details

This includes disclosing if your child has any long-term medical issues conditions that may affect eligibility for claims and premiums.
Your policy

Let us know what sort of cover you'd like in your policy. And what you can do without
We'll survey the market

Leave the hard work to us. We'll scour the market for child health insurance policies from leading providers to get the best one for your needs

Get a new quote

Guides and expert tips

Keep up to date and find out all you need to know with our latest guides.

What extra cover can I add to a child health care policy?

You’ll be able to add extra policies to your child’s health insurance if they aren’t already included, such as:

Dental care – though many of your child’s dental treatment costs will be covered by the NHS
Eye care – this is also covered by the NHS at a basic level
Physiotherapy
Homeopathy
Mental health support

Can my child still use the NHS for free treatment?

Yes, your child will still be entitled to free treatment at your GP and in A&E, as private health insurance is designed to work alongside the NHS.

What could be excluded from my child healthcare policy?

As with any insurance policy, you should keep an eye out for any exclusions that may not be covered by your private health insurance. For example, many policies exclude cover for:

Organ transplants
Kidney dialysis
Cosmetic treatment
Chronic conditions, including some that can be common in young children such as type one diabetes – some providers may cover this, but many won’t
Pre-existing conditions
Injuries related to dangerous sports or activities, which could be something to consider if your child regularly engages in physical activity
Mobility and hearing aids

Does my child need private healthcare?

Private healthcare can offer some benefits over using the NHS, such as:

Specialist treatment options that won’t be available through publicly funded healthcare
Private hospitals with private accommodation – this may even include accommodation for parents staying in the hospital if their children are ill
Reduced waiting times, as you won’t be on the NHS waiting list – which can often be lengthy

Choosing private healthcare can also benefit the NHS and people who use it, as more people getting private medical treatment means less of a burden on the public healthcare system.

However private healthcare can be expensive, which is where private health insurance can be useful – but there are some things you should consider before taking out a policy.

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Private healthcare for children

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