Review: Vitality Health Insurance
By
David Woodfield
Key policy features
- Vitality Health gives customers 50% off memberships to Virgin Active gyms
- The company can track customers' health using wearables and gym visits and reward them with discounts and freebies
- The health cover is one of the most comprehensive in the market
You can compare Vitality's prices and get a quote using specialist comparison site Activequote.com.
Summary
Vitality provide health insurance like many other companies, but in addition to diagnosing and treating medical issues it aims to keep customers healthy by offering them rewards and discounts with health and leisure brands and retailers.
Vitality has arranged deals with partner organisations that are available to all policyholders. These include half-price Virgin Active gym memberships, 75% off Champneys breaks, cheaper holidays and cash back on bicycle and sportswear.
If you do a certain amount of exercise a month you will receive rewards such as free cinema tickets and coffee.
Find out if Vitality is included in our guide to the best health insurers.
Compare Vitality's cover and prices versus the market by using Activequote.com.
Overview of health insurance cover provided by Vitality
Vitality Health offer customers a fully modular health insurance product that allows you to choose your levels of cover for:
- Outpatient - from none to unlimited
- Diagnostics - limited or unlimited
- Therapies - either none, £350 or unlimited cover for therapies like chiropractic treatment, osteopathy and acupuncture
- Psychiatric - either none, £15k or £20k
- Dental - no cover, cover for major events only or cover including routine events
- Travel - none or 120 days world wide travel cover
- Cancer - none, an option with time-limited treatments or an unlimited option
- Excess - finally, an option to vary your excess
You can choose your preferred option for each of these modules, plus decide the hospital network you'd like to be treated at. Other benefits include private ambulances for some hospital transfers, selected dental surgical procedures and home nursing support.
Vitality also offer customers the benefit of a Vitality GP. This option allows customers to speak to one of Vitality's full qualified GP's over an internet call (much like Skype) for consultation, diagnosis or treatment advice.
The Vitality GP can prescribe and approve treatments, meaning you don't have to wait for an appointment with your NHS GP before getting treated. Taking this option lowers your premium slightly as the Vitality GP will refer you to hospitals and specialists within their network.
You can check Vitality's cover and prices using Activequote.com.
How much does Vitality Health insurance cost?
The exact cost of your premium will depend on several factors. First, your age, postcode and current state of your health. Second, the level of cover you wish to purchase. Although optional extras will increase the price, they also offer greater protection should you suffer a bout of ill health.
Vitality Health has a number options that won't lower the premiums, but can help people manage their costs once they have the insurance. For example, if you choose to seek treatment through the NHS rather than claiming privately, it offers £250 cash back per night’s stay at an NHS hospital, up to a maximum £2,000 per year. There is also £125 cash back for day-patient treatments, up to a maximum £500.
In addition, Vitality Health runs a ‘healthy living rewards’ programme, which offers a number of discounts, special offers and loyalty schemes.
Compare Vitality's cover and prices versus the market by using Activequote.com.
What do Vitality Health customers say?
Vitality Health’s lifestyle incentive has received some positive feedback from customers, with one telling Thisismoney.co.uk: “I’ve already used several benefits. I receive a 50 per cent discount on my gym membership with Virgin Active, I have had discounted health reviews and even got money off a Eurostar ticket to Paris.”
Opinion is equally complimentary on Money.co.uk, with one customer claiming “brilliant - fast to pay out - no quibble”, and most reviews scoring Vitality Health 4 or 5 stars.
Vitality Health has received an average score of 4.1 out of 10 on Trustpilot.
What do the experts say about Vitality health insurance?
Vitality Health has been awarded the maximum possible score – 5 Stars – by Defaqto, the independent financial reviewer.
It was also awarded Best Individual PMI Provider at the 2014 Health Insurance Awards, and Health Insurance Provider of the Year at the 2014 Consumer MoneyFacts Awards.
