Comparison
Child accident cover vs private medical insurance
They are often confused, but they solve different problems. Private medical insurance pays a hospital to treat your child privately. Child accident cover pays cash to you — the parent — for everything the NHS does not cover: the unpaid leave, the parking, the childcare, the travel.
Side by side
| ChildShield (child accident & illness cover) | Private medical insurance | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Pays cash to the parent | Pays for private treatment |
| Who gets the money | You — straight to your bank | The hospital or clinic |
| What it can be spent on | Anything, no restrictions | Approved treatment only |
| Typical cost | £6 or £11 a month, all children | Priced on age and health, often per person |
| Medical questions | None | Usually required |
| Pre-existing conditions | Hospitalisation covered after 12 months | Usually excluded permanently |
| Excess | None | Usually applies |
| Claim limits | Unlimited valid claims | Annual limits common |
| Broken bones | Cash payout of £100–£600 per bone* | Typically treated on the NHS |
| Hospital stays | £50–£100 per 24 hours | Not usually a cash benefit |
*Depending on plan and break — £100/£300 (minor/major) on Standard, £200/£600 on Plus. The private medical insurance column describes how UK policies are commonly structured and is not a quote for any named product. Full ChildShield benefits are in the policy documents.
A real example
A nine-year-old breaks an arm falling off a trampoline. The NHS sets the arm the same day, so private medical insurance has nothing to pay for. What the family actually spends is two weeks of one parent's unpaid leave, six hospital and physio trips, parking and fuel, meals out because nobody is cooking, and after-school childcare for a younger sibling. That is the bill a cash payout is designed to cover — and it lands in the parent's account with no excess.
Frequently asked questions
I have cover through work — can I still take out a plan?
Yes. ChildShield pays in addition to any accident or critical illness cover you already hold, including cover through an employer, and the payout is not reduced. If one parent is covered at work, the other parent can still take out a plan.
Can both parents hold a plan?
Yes. Each parent can hold their own plan and each plan pays out in full on a valid claim, so one accident can mean two cash payments into the family.
What is the difference between child accident cover and private medical insurance?
Private medical insurance (PMI) pays for treatment in a private hospital. Child accident cover pays a cash lump sum directly to the parent when a covered accident, hospital stay or serious illness happens. The NHS still treats your child; the cash is there for the costs around that treatment — unpaid time off work, hospital parking, travel, food, childcare for siblings or private physio.
I already have private medical insurance — do I still need this?
They cover different costs, so many parents hold both. PMI pays the hospital; it does not put money in your pocket when you have to stop working for three weeks, drive to hospital every day and pay for parking and childcare. Child accident cover pays you cash you can spend on anything. It also covers broken bones and hospital nights, which PMI typically treats as an NHS matter.
Which is cheaper?
Child accident cover is far cheaper. ChildShield is £6 or £11 a month for every child in the family — about 20p a day, fixed, with no medical questions. Family private medical insurance in the UK commonly costs many times that and is priced on age and health, usually with an excess per claim.
Does child accident cover have an excess?
No. There is no excess and no cap on the number of valid claims. Most private medical policies apply an excess to each claim.
Can I use the payout for private treatment?
Yes — the money is paid into your bank account with no restrictions, so you can spend it on private physiotherapy or any other treatment if you choose. You can also spend it on rent, food or lost income. It is your money.
Is child accident cover health insurance?
No. It is a fixed cash-benefit plan, not health insurance, and it does not replace the NHS or private medical insurance. It pays set amounts when covered events happen.
Does it cover all my children?
Yes — one plan covers every child in the family, from birth up to age 23, for a single fixed price. There is no per-child charge.
Are pre-existing conditions covered?
For hospitalisation, pre-existing conditions are covered once the plan has been held for 12 months. Accidents, broken bones, serious illness and the 24/7 virtual GP are covered from day one, and there are no medical questions when you apply. Most private medical insurers exclude pre-existing conditions permanently.
Keep reading
Cash cover for every child — from £6 a month
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