The unfortunate truth is that anyone can be affected by a road traffic accident – whether you are the driver of a car, a passenger in the car or a pedestrian / cyclist on the street. From April '06 to March '07 there were approximately 189,000 road traffic accidents in the UK; and although the total number of road casualties has gone down in recent years, there were still around 258,000 road casualties during this period.



Fortunately, if the unthinkable happens to you, the NHS will be there to provide you with accident and emergency care following the accident. But, what about your after care? If you were to break your leg and need physiotherapy following the accident, you might have to wait a long time for NHS treatment. This is when a private medical insurance plan could come in handy.



Comprehensive private medical insurance plans will provide you with swift access to diagnosis and treatment - including physiotherapy - in private facilities for all eligible treatment. Other benefits often included are cash payments if you spend a night in an NHS hospital and parent accommodation if you need to stay overnight with your child in hospital. Many plans also provide access to a helpline that provides health information and counselling services which could prove beneficial following a traumatic experience.



Comprehensive private medical insurance plans can be an asset, especially following a road traffic accident; but they do come at a price and might not suit everyone’s budget. If you cannot afford a traditional private medical insurance plan, you may be pleased to know that there are other options.



One type of insurance plan in particular affords cover for private medical treatment required as a direct result of an injury sustained in a road traffic accident only. Because the cover is focused, the cost of this plan is often substantially lower than a full private medical insurance plan, but it still includes the benefits you would expect such as in-patient and day-patient treatment in private facilities, diagnostic tests, out-patient consultations and complementary practitioner charges.



There is no denying the fact that anyone can be involved in a road traffic accident. Luckily, however, there are health insurance plans available to support you should you have to call upon it – whether you choose a comprehensive private medical insurance plan or a lower cost plan specifically providing cover if you are involved in a road traffic accident.