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Axa

Type: First Healthcare child plan.

Description: Axa PPP has introduced the first private medical insurance plan exclusively for children, which has been designed to reach a large swathe of parents with a low premium of £9.99 per month, and £7.99 for each additional child thereafter. The plan covers early access to consultations with an experienced specialist as well as out-patient tests and scans to establish diagnosis. And, if hospital treatment is required as an in-patient or a day-patient, First Healthcare pays for private treatment straight away provided the NHS cannot see the child within six weeks of when treatment should take place.

Conditions: Parents can enrol their children over the phone or online and can apply without having to give any medical history. Axa PPP healthcare is offering one month’s free cover plus a £20 M&S voucher for each policy taken out. First Healthcare covers children up to 18 years old.

Contact: 0800 085 1199

Verdict: On the surface this appears to be an excellent plan. Parents’ prime concerns are for their children’s health and this is appealed to with this product. A main concern about the Plan is the condition that the NHS must confirm it will not treat within six weeks. Not only does this time limit appear obscure – unless Axa PPP knows what percentage of children’s illnesses are treated within this time-frame – but having a system agree, document and communicate that before the parent can make a claim through the child’s First Healthcare Plan is a cause for concern. It is also worth comparing the cost of provision for the children inside a family plan. However, Axa is a leading provider of healthcare products and this is another fine step along the way. (3/5)