ActiveQuote, the UK’s first true price comparison website for private health insurance, has officially launched today. The site is expected to transform the way health cover is bought in the UK by making it much easier for consumers to shop around and for people who have never considered health insurance before to buy it for the first time.
The new, completely independent website, www.activequote.com, quotes all the leading UK health policies and allows consumers to buy instantly.
Richard Theo, Director of ActiveQuote, says: “For the first time ever, we’re offering people the chance to view the entire private health insurance market from the comfort of their own home and receive instant cover – all in a process that takes less than two minutes.”
After asking just a few quick and simple questions, ActiveQuote.com presents up to 75 health insurance quotes drawn from all the leading UK health policy providers. Unlike the usual price comparison sites which start with the cheapest option, ActiveQuote.com asks what you want to spend and starts by showing the best available options around that price.
Richard says: “The cheapest policy isn’t always the best – yet most comparison sites direct you to the cheapest. We don’t do this as we feel it is more responsible to show people the best available options within their budget, especially when dealing with something as critical as health insurance.”
People can tailor each quote according to their preference with an instant price update. For example they can adjust the excess, choose a different hospital list, select the most suitable discount scheme, add or remove dental cover and much more. Equally, they can refine their search by specifying which policy benefits are critical and, true to its ‘active’ name, the site automatically removes quotes that don’t match.
Richard adds: “ActiveQuote.com is for those people who want to get the best health insurance deal but simply haven’t the time to search the market by hand. It’s also perfect for those who aren‘t comfortable handing over large amounts of personal details to a stranger – you can get your quotes, compare and even purchase without ever needing to speak to anyone. On the other hand if you are the kind of person who appreciates personal advice on the phone, we have a team of advisors with more than 40 years experience of health insurance, ready to help.”
Unlike other health insurance comparison sites, www.activequote.com is an independent FSA Authorised Broker and is impartial.
Richard again: “We’re not biased towards any insurer, we have no vested interest, our only commitment is to the consumer.”
The launch of the site has come at the right time. ABI figures published earlier this year show that the number of people covered by private medical insurance continued to rise. In 2008, 6,224,000 people were covered by either personal or corporate PMI, an increase on 2007 of 3.7%. Also, a study in August by Lloyds Banking Group showed that 25% of directors are prepared to put an end to all forms of employee benefits.
Richard comments: “A large number of staff are losing the benefit of a company health insurance scheme and are faced with having to find their own policy. They need to protect their family and don’t want to get it wrong. ActiveQuote simplifies things, helping you quickly zone in on the option that’s right for you.”
ActiveQuote.com’s simplicity is also expected to open up the market for private medical insurance for people who were previously put off by its complexity. The site has many user-friendly features to make buying medical insurance easier. It offers a wealth of helpful information such as a database of medical conditions with advice about what to look for in a policy if you suffer from a particular condition.
Richard continues, “People simply don’t know enough about private healthcare. There’s lots of misinformation out there. For instance, many people who have a pre-existing condition wrongly assume that they won’t be able to get cover for it if they change insurer. They believe they are stuck with an often uncompetitive policy. Our site explodes these myths and makes private health insurance more accessible.”
Richard’s comments are supported by research undertaken earlier in the year by CS Healthcare. Its survey of 1,000 UK adults found that 40% worry about their health every day and when asked about private medical insurance, on average they believed it would cost around £50 per month; this compares with a starting price of just £7.50 per month on ActiveQuote.com
“Consumers tend to have a feel for other insurances; they know when a car insurance policy is right. But with medical insurance they often don’t know what they need. This inhibits them from looking for medical insurance in the first place. With our site, consumers can get quotes live from all leading UK insurers; immediately compare and tailor those quotes and buy one instantly online.”
About Jason Hulott
