Customers should shop around to try and find the best premiums for their medical insurance an expert has suggested.
A spokesperson for the Patients Association said that people should read the small print on policies and be prepared to pay a larger excess for a good deal.
She went on the say that not having private insurance does not exclude private care bought on a 'spot purchase' basis, recommending that people save into an unofficial 'health piggy bank' which could be used towards private care if needed.
Life expectancy in the UK varies by country, with the highest expectancy in England and the lowest in Scotland.
The spokesperson also said that medical insurance may seem "harsh" to people who cannot get full coverage, but pointed out that medical insurance companies work to actuarial principles like any other type of insurer.
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