General & Medical Equs
Established in the 1980s, Peterborough based General & Medical has added cancer cover to its entry level Equs private medical insurance product.
Cancer cover in year one is £5,000, rising each year over five years up to £25,000 provided a cancer claim has not been made. The plan also includes:
• Full refund for in-patient hospital charges, including diagnostic tests.
• Up to £500 a year for initial out-patient consultations and up to £250 a year for physiotherapy.
• Choice of three hospital rate bandings. Customers get £100 a night.
• Travel insurance and cover for up to two pre-existing conditions can be added too.
A stress counselling helpline is also included and customers can add an excess to reduce cost further. Three other plan versions (Equs Plus, Altus and Altus Plus) are also available.
Plus points: Low cost cover that can be tailored to need and budget; now includes escalating cancer cover (a clever way for insurers to manage the cancer risk); other plan versions available at extra cost.
Not so plus points: Being the lowest cost version, many traditional PMI benefits are not included.
Website: http://www.generalandmedical.com.
Rating (max 10): Innovation: 8. Overall: 7. Silver.