Private Health Insurance
In the U.K., many people who have private health insurance get it as part of their employee benefits package, but it is also possible to set up your own plan. The level of cover you receive will depend on the amount you are willing to pay each month, but not all services available on the National Health Service (NHS) will be covered by all plans. You should also read the inclusions in your health insurance policy carefully, as pre-existing conditions and some long-term illnesses may not be covered. Choosing the plan that best suits the way you use medical care can save you money.
In other parts of the world, health insurance is a luxury. For instance, in the absence of any universal health care, the percentage of Indians with health insurance is low. In the organised sector, government employees have access to voluntary insurance schemes provided by the General Insurance Corporation (GIC). Many private employers provide employer-based schemes in the form of lump-sum payments, a fixed medical allowance, reimbursement of hospital expenditures and the like. The opening of the insurance sector to private and foreign participation in 1999 has changed the landscape, and now most large corporations offer their employees private health insurance.
