With Mother's Day fast approaching - the 10th of March for those who don't know, or have more likely forgotten, it is worth considering new mothers, as often health concerns surrounding a new arrival lead parents to consider private medical insurance to prepare for whatever eventuality.
Perhaps strangely, many health insurance policies will not cover general pregnancy arrangements in the UK whereas they will cover conditions that arise from childbirth.
Private hospitals and clinics do have the facilities available to treat and monitor any complications that may occur at this difficult time, and changing the industry somewhat last year, AXA PPP decided to cover pregnancy with a new top of the range policy. But as we all know; this policy does not come cheap.
After birth, family health insurance is certainly something that will have occurred to many parents. And with the average cost of a private medical insurance having risen to around £135 per month in recent years, it is no small consideration. For any new mothers, it is good to know that there are more options than the large insurers such as Bupa and Axa, despite the fact that they control nearly 90% of the market.
Family history is something that has come to affect insurance greatly through research over the past few years. Depending on a mother's medical history, a client's decisions regarding health insurance could well be affected. For women this is especially true, with a doubled risk of breast cancer if there is any family history of the condition.
Other illnesses that are considered include ovarian cancer, coronary heart disease and certain neurological conditions, so it is absolutely vital to be specific about any client relative conditions and any treatment received, as otherwise clients may be penalised for issues that are not actually familial.
Sam Brown is search marketing executive at The Health Insurance Group
