The Exeter enhances NHS cash benefit for health insurance customers

The Exeter has made a series of improvements to its NHS cash benefit designed to enhance the financial support for members who opt for NHS treatment rather than claim private treatment.

By increasing cash payments for NHS inpatient stays and adding a new NHS day-patient benefit, The Exeter says it aims to ensure members feel financially supported if they choose NHS care. It has also simplified the process to make the benefit easier for customers to understand and use. The Exeter said the enhancements were intended to make its cover “generous, straightforward and easy to access.”

Higher payments and simpler rules

An NHS cash benefit is a payment made by a health insurer if you choose free NHS treatment instead of claiming on your policy for private medical treatment.

Under its updated rules, The Exeter’s NHS inpatient cash benefit has risen from £150 to £250 per night. In addition, a new £150 per day payment has been introduced for eligible NHS day-patient treatments, reflecting the fact that many modern treatment pathways no longer involve overnight hospital stays. 

Previously, The Exeter’s NHS cash benefit only covered in-patient treatment under the NHS, up to a maximum stay of 30 nights.

The insurer has also removed the excess deduction, meaning members will now receive the full cash benefit they are entitled to. Claims made under the NHS cash benefit will not affect a member’s no-claims discount.

One overall limit

A single annual cap now applies across both in-patient and day-patient benefits, with a maximum annual cap of £10,000 depending on the product. For any single hospital visit, members can claim either the inpatient or day-patient benefit, but not both. The Exeter argues that this combined cap offers greater flexibility, allowing members to draw on support in line with their actual treatment plan rather than being constrained by multiple sub-limits.

The Exeter confirmed that its NHS cash benefit enhancements will apply to all its live plans and most legacy plans, with some exceptions where product-specific limits will remain. Members who choose NHS treatment instead of making a private claim can receive a cash payment without formally registering a claim, provided they supply appropriate evidence to The Exeter’s claims team.

You can read more about how NHS cash benefits work in our guide.

Chris Steele, founder and editor of myTribe Insurance Experts, said:

“Where NHS treatment is an option, the financial advantages of an NHS cash benefit can be hard to ignore. It can offer a rare triple benefit: cashback in hand, no excess to pay, and no lasting impact on the cost of your health insurance. The Exeter's latest changes will significantly improve its NHS cash benefit and will make NHS treatment a more attractive option to its members when it is a viable choice.”

Chris Steele

Cert CII (F1, IF7 & I10), Founder and Insurance Expert