Examining AF’s Healthcare scheme

The NHS has faced significant pressures in recent years, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistics indicate that as of April 2023, there were 7.4 million individuals awaiting NHS treatment, a number that has been steadily increasing since June 2020 when it stood at 3.96 million.

So it is not surprising that there has been a surge in interest in private medical insurance (PMI). According to data from Statista Consumer Insights, by December 2022, approximately 22% of adults had private medical insurance. In comparison, this figure was around 12% in 2019. This growth in private health insurance comes amidst a backdrop of rising living costs in recent years.

AF’s Healthcare scheme is provided by Aviva Health and administered by Alan Boswell Group. With over 1,600 Members already enrolled, individuals can join the scheme at any time during the year. But why should you consider joining?

Projected increases in illness rates

Opting for health insurance could prove to be a wise decision for individuals as illness rates are expected to escalate. A study supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) revealed that in 2015, 54% of individuals aged 65 and above had two or more medical conditions. Projections indicate that by 2035, this figure is estimated to rise to 67.8%. Among this age group, arthritis is expected to affect 62.6% of individuals, high blood pressure 55.9%, respiratory disease 24.4%, cancer 23.7%, and diabetes 21.6%.

Insurance gives you options

In the UK, individuals have the option to seek medical treatment privately instead of through the NHS. Opting for private treatment typically offers several advantages, including faster treatment and access to private hospitals, as well as medications and procedures not available through the NHS.

However, private medical treatment comes at a substantial cost. For example, a one-hour consultation with a psychiatrist can cost £400-£500, while a single round of chemotherapy around £30,000.

Because of these costs, many people choose to invest in private medical insurance. These policies help cover some or all the medical expenses incurred for private treatment.

What does private medical insurance cover?

Generally, policies provide cover for new, acute, and short-term conditions.

Acute conditions refer to significant conditions with identifiable causes and predictable prognoses, while short-term conditions are those that respond well to treatment. However, chronic conditions that last for an extended period and pre-existing conditions are generally excluded, although there may be exceptions depending on what’s agreed with the insurer and if you have been symptom-free for a specified period.

Most policies will pay for treatments such as:

• Private consultations with medical specialists
• Treatment in private hospitals
• Physiotherapy
• Outpatient care
• Access to private GP consultations (sometimes online)

You can also choose to add additional cover for conditions such as mental health issues.

What are the benefits of private medical insurance through AF Healthcare?

The main benefits of PMI are:

• Faster access to care and higher staffing levels
• Access to medicines and treatment not available through the NHS
• Private rooms and home nursing
• Full outpatient cover or include a limit, which minimises costs
• Choose which hospitals to include from a list of over 400 facilities throughout the UK
• Add optional benefits such as mental health cover, therapies, and dental and optical cover
• Set your own excess between £0-£1,000 – the higher your excess, the lower your premium will be
• Cover can be transferred from another insurer subject to meeting the necessary requirements, with flexible underwriting for new joiners

Your exclusive AF discount

Our price beater guarantee promises to beat your renewal price by up to 10%*. This is applicable to group policies transferring from another insurer.

And our AF Healthcare scheme through Aviva Health also benefits from preferential rates for AF Members.

To find out more, or to get started, call your AF Healthcare team on 01603 216 385 or email us.

AF Group is an appointed representative of Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. AF Insurance is a service provided by Alan Boswell Insurance Brokers Ltd. 

*Price beater guarantee is subject to not having previously received treatment or advice for a number of conditions (e.g. cancer, heart / circulatory, psychiatry, knees, back, shoulders or arthritis). Full details are available on request.