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Healthcare cash plans
Claim back dental, optical, physio and other treatment costs
Updated 15 March 2022
A healthcare cash plan lets you claim back costs of routine dental, optical or physio treatment – with the idea that you claim back more than it costs. We explain how it works, things to watch out for and our top-pick policies.
Who's this guide for? Anyone looking for a policy to claim back routine optical, dental or physio costs. Alternatively, if you're looking for private medical treatment at a time and place that suits, see our Private medical insurance guide.
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What is a healthcare cash plan?
With a healthcare cash plan, if you shell out for NHS or private treatment from the dentist, optician or physio, for example, you send your provider the receipt and it gives you the cash back up to an annual limit (the more you pay, the bigger the limit). Few have heard of these, unless they're a workplace perk, but many should consider them.
The way they work is you pay upfront for any treatment you need, and the insurer will reimburse you later. Each policy will have limits to the amounts you can get back (usually per condition, per year – for example, £100 annual dental cover), and these are typically linked to the monthly premium you'll pay – the more you pay, the more you can claim back.
This works differently from private medical insurance, which covers the cost of private medical care should you become unwell, though you could have both.
What do healthcare cash plans cover?
Healthcare cash plans cover a number of different NHS and private treatments, provided they're carried out by a qualified and registered practitioner. It can vary per policy, but here are some of the most common:
- Dental. Visits to the dentist and hygienist (cosmetic treatment is often excluded)
- Optical. Eye tests and prescription glasses or contact lenses (disposable contact lenses are not always covered)
- Physiotherapy, chiropody and osteopathy. Manual therapy and massage, including acupuncture and homeopathy
- Childbirth. A one-off payment when a baby is born or legally adopted
- Hospital inpatient. Cash you can claim if you need to stay in overnight
Though note your plan may not cover the entire cost of every session, as some policies will only pay out a proportion of each claim, for example a 50% per claim rule for physiotherapy. So for a plan with a £150 annual physio limit, you could claim back £20 from a £40 appointment up to seven times a year.
How and when do I make a healthcare cash plan claim?
Once you've had the treatment, you'll need to complete a claim form and send a copy of the receipt to the provider (most let you do this online). You'll usually need to do this within a certain timeframe, typically within three months of the treatment. After it's verified your claim, you'll normally receive payment as a cheque or directly into your bank account within a few days.
Should I get a healthcare cash plan?
Any policy is optional, so you'll need to weigh up whether the monthly cost is worth it for you. But here are some key points to consider:
- If you don't regularly pay for dental check-ups, eye tests, glasses or physio then there's no point. This one is simple: if you don't spend anything anyway, you'll have nothing to claim back. So the cost of a policy is money down the drain.
Yet with the best cash plans, if you max out the claim amounts on the dental and optical categories, you get back more than the policy cost, so owt else is a bonus.
- A cash plan is then only worth considering if you'll likely claim back more than it'll cost you. A good way to estimate this is to tot up how much you currently spend on routine check-ups. If the cost of your chosen policy is less or equal to this, then it's likely you'll be up at the end, with additional cover if you need to claim for any other treatments that are included.
- Consider self-insuring. If you're not sure you'll claim more than the cost of a plan, rather than paying a monthly premium to an insurer, instead pay that amount into a top savings account. Should you need any minor treatment or consultations, simply dip into your own insurance fund. Plus you'll keep the cash with interest on top if you don't claim.
- Only buy one if you'll claim each and every time – otherwise they're a waste of money. Just because people can claim for the cost of healthcare through a cash plan, doesn't mean they do. Many people forget to send in their claim forms, so there's no payout at all.
Cash plan providers rely on apathetic customers with direct debits dripping from their bank accounts to keep their coffers healthy. Cash plans only have value if you'll make claims. If you won't, you're throwing your dosh down the drain.
- Check if you're already covered by your employer. If you or a partner is employed, it's always worth checking if your employer(s) offer individual or family cash plans. This can sometimes be a no-cost standard benefit (though you may pay tax on it) or an option you can choose to pay for, often via your payslip.
Firms' bulk-buying power often means they can negotiate big discounts, so find out the cost and cover, then compare it with our top-pick policies below.
Healthcare cash plan need-to-knows
If you think a healthcare cash plan is right for you, here are our four need-to-knows to understand before opting for a new policy.
Top-pick healthcare cash plan policies
There are lots of plans available with different cover and limits, so it's important to pick one that's right for you.
To create our shortlist of top picks, we've analysed a variety of policies and calculated which ones offer the highest potential value (how much each policy could pay out, compared with its cost). We check online reviews before including any policy, however this is no guarantee of good service – if you've used any of these providers, please let us and others know of your experience.
Top cash plans for individuals 65 and under – from £7/month
We've listed the limits for dental, optical and physio costs as the key ones, though these policies do have limits for other costs such as a specialist consultation/diagnostic tests – see each policy for full details. Yet always choose the policy that suits your budget with limits to suit your needs (all these providers offer multiple levels of cover, so do click through if the limits below aren't what you're after).
| Provider (plan name) + cost | MSE value score | Claim limits | No-claim period |
| Basic cover – best for those who'll only claim optical & dental, as premiums are low & a few claims will make them cost-effective | |||
| Hive (Bronze) Monthly cost: £9.16 (£109.92/year) |
2.6 | - Dental: £70 per person, per year - Optical: £70 per person, per year - Physio: £150 per person, per year |
Immediate cover |
| Monthly cost: £7 (£84/year) |
1.8 | - Dental: £90 per person over 2 years - Optical: £90 per person over 2 years |
3 months |
| Policies with higher limits – useful for those with a track record of bigger claims or those who know they'll claim larger amounts back | |||
| Sovereign Healthcare (Level 4) Monthly cost: £24.05 (£288.60/year) |
2.8 | - Dental: £150 per person, per year - Optical: £150 per person, per year |
Immediate cover |
| UK Heathcare (Everyday Cash Plan Level 3) Monthly cost:£22.50 (£270/year) |
2.4 | - Dental: £175 per person, per year - Optical: £200 per person over 2 years |
13 weeks |
Correct at 15 March 2022.
Top cash plans for couples aged 65 and under – from £14/month
Usually if you're in a couple, it's cheapest to buy two individual policies – or some policies will let you add your partner by doubling the cost. So, have a look at the top picks for individuals above.
Top cash plans for families – from £18/month
These are our top picks if you're after cover for yourself, partner and children, with the prices based on two adults and two children. If you're looking for cover for a couple, take a look at the individual cover above as two separate policies can be cheaper. Choose the policy that suits your budget with limits to suit your needs (all these providers offer multiple levels of cover, so do click through if the limits below aren't what you're after).
| Provider (plan name) + cost | MSE value score | Annual limits, per person (unless stated) | No-claim period |
| Basic cover – best for those who'll only claim optical & dental, as premiums are low & a few claims will make them cost-effective | |||
UK Healthcare (Everyday Cash Plan Level 2) Monthly cost: £28.50 (£342/year) |
3.3 | - Dental: £95 per adult, per year - Optical: £120 per adult over 2 years - Physio: £220 per adult, per year (limited to £20/visit) |
13 weeks |
| Hive (Bronze) Monthly cost: £18.32 (£219.84/year) |
2.6 | - Dental: £70 per adult, per year - Optical: £70 per adult, per year |
Immediate cover |
| Policies with higher limits – useful for those with a track record of bigger claims or those who know they'll claim larger amounts back | |||
| Sovereign Healthcare (Level 4) Monthly cost: £48.10 (£577.20/year) |
5.5 | - Dental: £150 per person, per year - Optical: £150 per person, per year - Physio: £500 per person, per year (limited to 50% of each claim) |
Immediate cover |
| Monthly cost: £34 (£408/year) |
2.6 | - Dental: £125 per adult or all children, per year - Optical: £125 per adult or all children, per year - Physio: £100 per adult or all children, per year |
13 weeks |
Correct at 15 March 2022. Prices based on two adults and two children.
Top cash plans for individuals over 65 – from £7/month
Many cash plans have a maximum joining age of 65, so here we've selected our pick of the top plans that have a higher sign-up age limit. We've listed the limits for dental, optical and physio costs as the key ones, though these policies do have limits for other costs such as a specialist consultation/diagnostic tests – see each policy for full details.
Yet always choose the policy that suits your budget with limits to suit your needs (all these providers offer multiple levels of cover, so do click through if the limits below aren't what you're after).
| Provider (plan name) + cost | MSE value score | Max sign-up age | Claim limits | No-claim period |
| Basic cover – best for those who'll only claim optical & dental, as premiums are low & a few claims will make them cost-effective | ||||
| UK Healthcare (Over-50s' Cash Plan Level 2) Monthly cost: £11.75 (£141/year) |
3.6 | No max | - Dental: £60 per person, per year - Optical: £100 per person, per year - Physio: £350 per person, per year (max £20/visit) |
13 weeks |
| Hive (Bronze) Monthly cost: £9.16 (£109.92/year) |
2.6 | 69 | - Dental: £70 per person, per year - Optical: £70 per person, per year |
Immediate cover |
| WHA Direct (PL7) Monthly cost: £7 (£84/year) |
1.8 | 69 | - Dental: £90 per person over 2 years - Optical: £90 per person over 2 years - Physio: £120 per person over 2 years |
3 months |
| Policies with higher limits – useful for those with a track record of bigger claims or those who know they'll claim larger amounts back | ||||
| HSF (Scheme V4) Monthly cost: £31 (£372/year) |
2.3 | 70 | - Dental: £200 per person, per year - Optical: £220 per person, per year - Physio: £450 per person, per year |
3 months |
| SimplyHealth (Level 2) Monthly cost: £20 (£240/year) |
1.5 | 79 | - Dental: £100 per person, per year - Optical: £100 per person, per year - Physio: £150 per person, per year |
Immediate cover |
Correct at 15 March 2022.
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How to complain about your cash plan provider
The insurance industry doesn't have the best customer-service reputation and while a provider may be good for some, it can be hell for others.
Common problems include claims either not being paid out on time or at all, unfair charges, or exclusions being hidden in small print.
It's always worth trying to call your provider first, but, if not, then you can use free complaints tool Resolver. The tool helps you manage your complaint, and if the company doesn't play ball, it also helps you escalate your complaint to the free Financial Ombudsman Service.
Spotted out of date info/broken links? Email: brokenlink@moneysavingexpert.com
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