April 29, 2025
Unless you’ve been extremely fortunate, you can’t fail to have noticed the difficulty in getting an appointment for an NHS GP these days. Increased waiting times for appointments of any kind are incredibly frustrating, and if you have significant health issues, can also be very worrying.
Financial protection policies such as life insurance and income protection have traditionally provided you primarily with financial security in times of need. However, insurers are increasingly recognising the importance to their customers not only of financial protection, but also access to healthcare.
With demand for more convenient ways to access healthcare on the rise, many UK insurers have begun to consider how they can add value to their policies. One way that several UK financial protection providers have approached this is to include GP services as part of their life insurance or income protection policies, offering policyholders access to private healthcare consultations without additional costs.
The rise of GP services in life insurance and income protection policies
Life insurance and income protection policies that offer access to private GPs can add significant value, providing peace of mind that you can speak to a medical professional when you need urgent advice, without worrying about long waiting times.
Here are some of the most common added value benefits that we’re seeing currently:
One of the biggest challenges facing people in the UK health system is long waiting times for NHS appointments. As a policyholder with access to private GPs you can bypass these delays and receive medical attention much sooner. This is particularly valuable if you need an urgent consultation for minor illnesses or ongoing health conditions and cannot afford to wait weeks to see a doctor.
Many insurers offer GP consultations through phone or video appointments, enabling you to seek medical advice from the comfort of your homes or workplace, invaluable for busy professionals, parents, or those with mobility limitations. Increased flexibility means you are often able to schedule these consultations outside of traditional GP office hours, at times that suit you.
Part of their GP service benefit often includes the ability to receive private prescriptions, rather than waiting for an NHS prescription. The private GP can issue medication quickly, allowing you to collect it from a nearby pharmacy without delay. This is particularly useful for conditions that require immediate treatment, such as infections or pain management.
Many insurers also include referral services (such as physiotherapy, mental health services, or diagnostic tests such as blood work or scans, for example), enabling you to be directed to a specialist without having to wait weeks or months for an NHS referral.
Mental well-being is just as important as physical health, and private GP access can offer you consultations for mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, or stress management. Some providers even offer additional mental health support services, including therapy or counselling, as part of their protection policies.
At Talis IFA, many of our clients are finding that these added healthcare benefits make their financial protection policies more valuable and comprehensive. As well as covering them financially in the event of the unexpected, they can access healthcare services that help to maintain their well-being before conditions escalate. As well as offering increased peace of mind, this approach can reduce the likelihood of long-term financial difficulties caused by untreated medical issues.
How to find the most appropriate financial protection for you
Whilst these added services certainly have the potential to increase the value of your financial protection policy at no extra cost to you, it’s important to remember the core purpose of these protections: to protect you and your family’s finances, and not to be influenced in your decision solely by an ‘extra’ feature.
That’s why we recommend consulting an IFA before committing to any financial protection policy. Your Talis IFA will look holistically at your circumstances; your income, financial commitments, lifestyle and long-term aims before researching the whole of the UK market to recommend the solutions that best meet your needs. If you are particularly keen on a policy that includes GP services, they’ll focus on those – but will also look objectively at the small print. If there are alternative options for health care cover that might be more appropriate to you, they’ll talk through those with you.
Talis IFAs are completely independent of any particular provider, and are always completely transparent and upfront about our fees – giving you the confidence that the solutions we recommend are based solely on your needs.
To discuss your financial protection needs, find a Talis IFA
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