Supermarket giant launches children's healthplan
Tesco has launched a healthcare cover product designed to meet the needs of children with introductory prices from £7.49 a month.
Jeremy Sutton, head of Tesco Health Insurance, said: 'The new Tesco Child Health Plan will help give parents reassurance that they can find out what's wrong with their child quickly with prompt access to diagnostic tests. There is no need for parents to cover themselves on this policy, and no annual maximum on claims. We are making health insurance available to a much wider range of consumers.'
The plan does not cover chronic or pre-existing conditions that have occurred in the five years prior to the policy being taken out. However, if a pre-existing condition does not reoccur for two years after joining, the condition will then be covered by the policy. Accident and emergency care, and consultations and tests more than three months after diagnosis are also not covered.
Hilary Munube, health insurance consultant at PMI Partners, said that making people aware of such products is a good thing but said she would always advise customers to buy a policy through an adviser: "It's a good idea that they're making people aware of health insurance but I think people should be looking at an adviser for their own benefit."
She added: "Everyone is bound to be compliant with the FSA so they should be getting best advice wherever they go, as long as it's authorised and regulated by the FSA."
The new policies will be underwritten by Axa PPP Healthcare.
