Most of the small print revolves around the options chosen. The main choices where discrepencies arise are: * Out patient treatment - this provides cover for tests that take place before diagnosis and treatment. Many providers give options such as full cover, cover with monetary limits or limitations on psychiatric cover. If you choose a plan with limitations it is important to to know if the limits are per year or per claim. * Hospital lists - many providers give you options when you take out your health insurance policy. Using trust hospitals, using their standard hospital list or opting to upgrade to include London hospitals would be three good examples. Bear in mind if you choose to limit the number of hospitals you can be treated at, some specialists could charge more than allowed on the insurer's fee scale. If that was the case you could be expected to make up the difference. You also need to be aware whether or not you can use the specialist of your choice. You should be aware of the hospitals in your area before deciding the best option for you. * Travel cover - a lot of health plans can include travel insurance as an optional extra, whereas others include it as standard. Cover is commonly for up to 90 days but it does vary from provider to provider. Cover generally pays for for the usual suspects such as delayed baggage, loss of passport, personal liability, loss or damage to personal baggage up to the policy limits as well as hospital treatment, operating theatre charges, surgical dressings, drugs, diagnostic tests, specialist fees for in-patient and out-patient treatment as well as the cost of repatriation if neccessary. If you are travelling for an extended period it is worth being crystal clear which limit applies to your health cover. * Excesses - a commonly used way of bringing down premiums without affecting cover. Excesses can range from zero to around £5,000 depending on the option you have chosen. Some providers allow you to choose whether you would prefer the excess to be applied per claim or on a per person, per policy per year basis. If you select to pay your excess yearly then it is payable only once on the first costs incurred in a plan year for each person who claims in that year. Then no matter how many claims are made it won't be payable again in that year. However, once you go into a new year, it is payable on the first costs claimed - even if continuing on from treatment started in the previous year.
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