When you think of health insurance, you might imagine claiming when you suffer a serious health event.
But health insurance doesn’t have to only be for when you need surgery or a specialist appointment.
There are health insurance options that can help you access healthcare for many of the more minor winter ills that can plague us through the winter months.
How it works
Many health insurers offer coverage that can help with things such as the cost of a trip to the GP or a flu vaccine.
Sometimes this is as part of a comprehensive package of cover that will help with anything from a check-up to a surgery. Other policies might be “every day” style cover that is designed to help share the cost of regular maintenance appointments.
Some offer a module you can add on that will provide cover for things such as flu vaccinations and prescriptions.
We can help you work out what the appropriate mix of cover might be if you want protection to see you through whatever the colder weather delivers.
Why it helps
Sometimes it can be hard to find space in the budget for an appointment if you become unwell.
Having insurance for these expenses can make them easier to manage, particularly if you don’t see them coming. Researchers say exposure to cold can make it harder to fight off infections, so it’s important to take action early to avoid things becoming worse. Insurance can help with that.
Winter overload
Sometimes, public health systems can be particularly busy in winter due to people suffering from a range of ills.
If you need attention for something that requires hospital or specialist care, having health insurance can help you access private healthcare, which can often be faster than going through the busy public health system.
Common winter illnesses to watch for
Flu – influenza is an infectious disease that can give you symptoms ranging from mild to severe, including headaches, coughs and fatigue. A vaccine can help avoid this.
Common cold – Treatment for a cold is usually mostly about managing the symptoms. But keeping in touch with your GP and ensuring you have a good base level of health and immunity can make colds easier to shrug off.
Colds and flu can lead to bronchitis, a common chest infection, if they are not treated or the symptoms are severe.
Pneumonia – Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be caused by bacteria or a virus. There are pneumococcal vaccines to help avoid it.
Most winter illnesses are the sort of thing that are dealt with in the public health system, and aren’t covered by your health insurance policy. However, for other types of medical and surgical conditions or requirements, you may find your health insurance invaluable in getting you the required care faster than on a public hospital waiting list.
Time for an insurance check-up?
If you’d like to make sure your insurance is fit to see you through winter, get in touch with us. We can help you look at the cover you have and any changes that might be beneficial.
Disclaimer: Please note that the content provided in this article is intended as an overview and as general information only. While care is taken to ensure accuracy and reliability, the information provided is subject to continuous change and may not reflect current developments or address your situation. Before making any decisions based on the information provided in this article, please use your discretion and seek independent guidance.
