I don’t know about you, but it seems to me we are heading for a bit of a bumpy autumn with all these predictions of how many Swine Flu outbreaks are expected!

This is ‘great’ news, don’t you think, especially as we have had such a fantastic summer (not!), it’s the last thing we want to turn our attention to.

Personally, I just think what will be, will be! But there are many people quite genuinely concerned about this pandemic and how it could affect them.

If I were to put my adviser hat on in this situation, I would suggest people could consider the added piece of mind a Private Medical Insurance can bring.  If you are concerned about the length of NHS waiting lists and are looking for a higher level of personal medical care, this type of additional protection could be for you.

Irrespective of the flu situation, I would always recommend people consider providing their family with the assurance of knowing first class hospital care is available for them.

In fact, the number of people covered under Private Medical

Insurance policies has reached 7.5m lives covered in the UK, which is 12.3% of the entire population*.

Apparently, these figures continue to rise as people have become concerned about the risk of infection by the MRSA virus.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not suggesting Private Medical Insurance is the answer to the Swine flu pandemic, but it will give people additional peace of mind now and in the future, should you be in any way concerned.

Below is an overview of the typical benefits a policy of this type provides:

• Broad range of healthcare needs covered

• Added-value benefits include:

• 24-hour GP helpline

• 24-hour stress counselling helpline

• Online personal health management service

• Family option, including free child cover

• Access to an extensive list of hospitals

• Private ambulance

• Parent accommodation when staying with a child under nine

• Cover continues regardless of the number of eligible claims made

• Option to include additional benefit towards routine dental and optical expenses

• Health and fitness club discounts available

• No claim discount of up to 45% (30% for switching policies)

• Overseas cover

• Ability to tailor plan benefits to suit individual

requirements

Make the leap to a better PROTECTED life!

*Source: Laing & Buisson Health and Care Cover UK Market Report 2007.