Fever in Children When to Seek Private Care
As an FCA-authorised broker that has helped arrange over 900,000 policies, we at WeCovr understand that nothing is more worrying than a sick child. This guide on private medical insurance in the UK explains how to navigate childhood fevers and when private care might be the right choice for your family.
Understand childhood fevers and how PMI supports fast access to paediatric care
A fever is one of the most common reasons parents seek medical advice. It’s the body's natural and healthy response to an infection, a sign that the immune system is fighting back. For a parent, however, a child's hot forehead and listlessness can be a significant source of anxiety.
In the UK, our first port of call is rightly the National Health Service (NHS). It provides excellent emergency and routine care. But when a fever lingers, recurs, or is accompanied by symptoms that aren't an emergency but are still deeply concerning, the waiting times for specialist NHS appointments can add to the stress.
This is where private medical insurance (PMI) can provide a crucial safety net. It’s not a replacement for the NHS—especially for A&E services—but a powerful supplement designed to give you rapid access to specialist paediatric diagnostics and treatment when you need it most.
What is a Fever in a Child?
A fever is technically a body temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher. A child's normal temperature is usually around 36.4°C (97.5°F), but this can vary slightly.
Most fevers are caused by common viral infections like:
- Colds and flu
- Tonsillitis
- Ear infections
- Stomach bugs (gastroenteritis)
- Childhood illnesses like chickenpox
These are typically 'self-limiting', meaning they get better on their own with rest, fluids, and appropriate over-the-counter medicine.
When to Worry: Recognising Red Flag Symptoms in Children with Fever
While most fevers are harmless, some can signal a more serious underlying illness. It is vital to know when to seek immediate medical help.
Always trust your parental instinct. If you are worried, seek medical advice.
Contact NHS 111, your GP, or 999 for emergency help if your child has a fever alongside any of the following red flag symptoms.
For Babies Under 3 Months
A fever of 38°C or higher in a baby less than three months old is considered a medical emergency. You should see a doctor urgently.
For Babies 3 to 6 Months
Seek urgent medical advice if a baby in this age group has a temperature of 39°C or higher, or a lower fever with other worrying signs.
Red Flags for All Children
- Breathing Difficulties: Fast breathing, grunting noises, or sucking in their stomach under their ribs.
- Drowsiness or Irritability: The child is floppy, difficult to wake up, or has a weak, high-pitched cry.
- Dehydration: Sunken eyes, a sunken fontanelle (the soft spot on a baby's head), dry nappies, or no tears when crying.
- A Non-Fading Rash: A rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it. This can be a sign of meningitis.
- Stiff Neck: The child complains of a stiff neck or light hurting their eyes.
- Seizures: The child has a fit or convulsion, often caused by the rapid rise in temperature (a febrile convulsion).
- Persistent Fever: A fever that lasts for more than 5 days or one that doesn't come down with paracetamol or ibuprofen.
- Severe Pain: Pain that doesn't get better or seems severe.
Important: For any life-threatening emergency, you should always call 999 and go to your nearest NHS A&E. Private hospitals are not equipped for emergency admissions.
The Standard UK Healthcare Pathway for a Child with Fever
When your child develops a fever, the typical journey through the UK healthcare system looks something like this:
- Home Care: You manage the fever at home with children's paracetamol or ibuprofen (if they are over 3 months old), encourage them to drink plenty of fluids, and let them rest.
- Contacting a Healthcare Professional: If you're worried, you contact your GP surgery or call NHS 111. An adviser will ask about your child's symptoms and direct you to the most appropriate care.
- GP Appointment: You may be offered a telephone consultation or an in-person appointment. The GP will assess your child and may prescribe medication (like antibiotics for a bacterial infection) or advise continued monitoring.
- Referral to a Specialist: If the GP is concerned about a persistent, recurring, or unusual problem, they will make a referral to an NHS paediatrician.
This system works well, but non-urgent specialist referrals can involve significant waits. According to NHS England data, the median waiting time for consultant-led elective care was 14.5 weeks in September 2024. For a worried parent, a wait of several months to see a paediatrician can feel like an eternity.
How Private Medical Insurance (PMI) Changes the Equation
Private medical insurance offers a parallel path focused on speed, choice, and comfort. It’s designed to get you answers and treatment for acute conditions—illnesses that are curable and arise after you take out your policy.
Crucial Information: Pre-existing and Chronic Conditions It is vital to understand that standard private medical insurance in the UK does not cover pre-existing conditions (symptoms or illnesses you knew about before your policy started) or chronic conditions (long-term illnesses like asthma, diabetes, or eczema that require ongoing management rather than a cure). PMI is for new, unexpected health issues.
Here’s how the private pathway typically works for a child with a concerning fever:
- Get a GP Referral: Your journey still begins with your NHS GP. You'll need to see them to get an 'open referral', which confirms that your child needs to see a specialist.
- Contact Your Insurer: You call your PMI provider, explain the situation, and provide the referral details. They will confirm your cover is active and authorise the next steps.
- Choose Your Specialist: The insurer will provide you with a list of approved private paediatricians and hospitals in your area. You can choose who you want to see and where.
- Book Your Appointment: You can then book a private appointment directly. This can often happen within days, bypassing the long NHS waiting list.
- Diagnostics and Treatment: The private consultant will see your child, and if any tests—like blood tests, ultrasounds, or MRI scans—are needed, they are usually done within 24-48 hours.
An expert PMI broker like WeCovr can be invaluable in this process. We help you understand the nuances of different policies, ensuring you have the right cover for your family before you ever need to make a claim.
What Does Private Paediatric Care Actually Involve?
The primary benefit of going private is speed, but the experience itself is also different. Here’s a comparison of what you might expect for a child with a persistent, non-emergency fever.
| Feature | NHS Pathway | Private Pathway (with PMI) |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Contact | GP appointment or NHS 111 | NHS GP for open referral |
| Wait for Specialist | Can be weeks or months depending on urgency and location | Typically days to a week |
| Choice of Specialist | Limited; you are assigned to the next available consultant | You choose from a list of insurer-approved specialists |
| Consultation Time | Often 10-15 minutes due to high patient volume | Generally longer, allowing more time for questions |
| Diagnostic Tests | Waiting times for scans and tests can vary | Very fast, often within 24-48 hours of consultation |
| Hospital Environment | Likely a shared paediatric ward | Private, en-suite room for child and a parent |
| Continuity of Care | You may see different doctors during your journey | You will typically see the same consultant throughout |
| Cost | Free at the point of use | Covered by your PMI policy (an excess may apply) |
For parents, the value lies in getting definitive answers quickly, reducing the anxiety of the unknown and starting any necessary treatment sooner.
Real-Life Scenarios: When PMI Can Be a Lifesaver for Worried Parents
To understand the practical benefits, let's look at some hypothetical situations where a family PMI policy would make a significant difference.
Scenario 1: The Recurring Fever
- The Problem: A four-year-old boy has had a high fever four times in six months. Each time, the GP diagnoses a viral infection, but the parents are worried there’s an underlying cause. The NHS waiting list for a general paediatric review is over four months.
- The PMI Solution: The parents use their family health insurance. They get an open referral from their GP and see a private paediatrician within a week. The consultant arranges a comprehensive set of blood tests and an abdominal ultrasound the following day. The results come back quickly, revealing a recurring but treatable urinary tract issue. A clear treatment plan is put in place, giving the parents immense peace of mind.
Scenario 2: The Post-Viral Cough and Lethargy
- The Problem: A seven-year-old girl recovers from a nasty bout of flu but is left with a persistent cough, low-grade fever, and is too tired for school. The GP suspects it could be 'post-viral fatigue' but wants to rule out 'walking pneumonia'. The wait for a non-urgent NHS chest X-ray is three weeks.
- The PMI Solution: Using their policy, the family is referred to a private paediatric respiratory consultant. They are seen in two days and have a chest X-ray at a private clinic that same afternoon. The results confirm there's no pneumonia, and the consultant provides advice on managing post-viral recovery, reassuring the family and helping the child get back to full health faster.
Scenario 3: The Fever with an Unexplained Rash
- The Problem: A toddler develops a fever and a widespread, blotchy rash. A trip to A&E rules out meningitis, which is a huge relief. However, the rash persists, and the GP isn't sure of the cause. A referral to an NHS paediatric dermatologist could take up to 18 weeks.
- The PMI Solution: The family's private health cover includes dermatology. They see a private paediatric dermatologist within five days. After a thorough examination, the consultant diagnoses it as a classic presentation of a specific viral exanthem (a virus-related rash), explaining that it looks worrying but is harmless and will fade on its own. The parents get a definitive answer in days, not months.
Choosing the Right Private Medical Insurance for Your Family
Not all PMI policies are created equal. When choosing a plan for your family, it’s essential to look at the details. A specialist broker like WeCovr can help you compare the UK market to find the best PMI provider for your needs at no cost to you.
Key features to consider:
- Outpatient Cover: This is one of the most important elements for investigating issues like fever. It covers specialist consultations and diagnostic tests that don't require a hospital stay. Policies can range from a few hundred pounds of cover to 'full cover'. For children, a generous outpatient limit (e.g., £1,000-£1,500 or more) is highly recommended.
- Hospital List: Insurers have different tiers of hospital lists. Ensure the policy you choose includes reputable private hospitals and clinics near you that have dedicated paediatric facilities.
- Excess: This is the amount you agree to pay towards a claim. A higher excess (e.g., £250 or £500) will lower your monthly premium.
- Underwriting Type:
- Moratorium: Simpler to set up. The policy automatically excludes any condition you've had symptoms, treatment, or advice for in the last 5 years. This exclusion can be lifted if you remain symptom-free for a continuous 2-year period after your policy starts.
- Full Medical Underwriting: You declare your family's full medical history upfront. The insurer will then state any specific exclusions from the outset. This provides more certainty but takes longer to arrange.
- Mental Health Cover: With NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) facing overwhelming demand, private cover for mental health is an increasingly valuable benefit for families with older children and teenagers.
The Cost of Family Private Health Cover in the UK
The cost of a family PMI policy can vary significantly based on factors like the parents' age, where you live, the level of cover chosen, and the excess. However, adding children to a policy is often more cost-effective than many people think, with some insurers offering discounts or even "free" cover for children under a certain age.
Here are some illustrative monthly premium estimates for a family of four (two adults in their late 30s, two children under 10) living outside of London.
| Cover Level | Estimated Monthly Premium | Key Features Included |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | £80 – £130 | In-patient and day-patient care. Limited or no outpatient cover. Focuses on covering surgery and hospital stays. |
| Mid-Range | £140 – £220 | Full in-patient cover, plus a good outpatient limit (e.g., £1,000) for consultations and diagnostics. |
| Comprehensive | £220+ | Full in-patient and outpatient cover. Often includes therapies, mental health support, and options for dental/optical. |
These are estimates as of late 2024/early 2025. Your actual quote will depend on your specific circumstances.
Beyond Fever: Added Benefits of a Family PMI Policy
A good family private medical insurance UK policy offers more than just fast-track appointments. Many now come with a suite of benefits designed to support your family's overall wellbeing.
- Digital GP Services: Most leading policies include 24/7 access to a virtual GP via phone or video call. This is incredibly useful for getting quick advice about a child's fever at any time of day or night, without having to wait for your own GP surgery to open.
- Mental Health Support: Access to counsellors, psychologists, or psychiatrists without a long wait can be invaluable for teenagers struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges.
- Therapies: Policies can include cover for physiotherapy, osteopathy, and even speech and language therapy, where NHS waiting lists can also be long.
- Wellness Programmes & Perks: Many insurers offer rewards for healthy living, such as gym discounts or fitness trackers. As a WeCovr client, you also get complimentary access to our AI-powered calorie and nutrition tracking app, CalorieHero, to support your family's health goals. Furthermore, customers who purchase PMI or life insurance may be eligible for discounts on other types of cover.
Ultimately, private medical insurance is about providing peace of mind. It ensures that if your child develops a new and worrying health issue, you have the option to bypass queues and get them seen by an expert quickly.
Can I use private health insurance for my child's pre-existing asthma?
Do I still need an NHS GP if I have a private medical insurance policy for my family?
What should I do if my child has a fever and I think it's an emergency?
Is it very expensive to add my children to my private health cover?
Navigating your child's health can be daunting, but having a plan provides security. To explore how a private medical insurance policy could give your family fast access to expert care and invaluable peace of mind, speak to one of our friendly experts at WeCovr.
We will compare leading UK providers to find the right cover for you, at no extra cost. Get your free, no-obligation quote today.
Related guides
Why private medical insurance and how does it work?
What is Private Medical Insurance?
Private medical insurance (PMI) is a type of health insurance that provides access to private healthcare services in the UK. It covers the cost of private medical treatment, allowing you to bypass NHS waiting lists and receive faster, more convenient care.How does it work?
Private medical insurance works by paying for your private healthcare costs. When you need treatment, you can choose to go private and your insurance will cover the costs, subject to your policy terms and conditions. This can include:• Private consultations with specialists
• Private hospital treatment and surgery
• Diagnostic tests and scans
• Physiotherapy and rehabilitation
• Mental health treatment
Your premium depends on factors like your age, health, occupation, and the level of cover you choose. Most policies offer different levels of cover, from basic to comprehensive, allowing you to tailor the policy to your needs and budget.
Questions to ask yourself regarding private medical insurance
Just ask yourself:👉 Are you concerned about NHS waiting times for treatment?
👉 Would you prefer to choose your own consultant and hospital?
👉 Do you want faster access to diagnostic tests and scans?
👉 Would you like private hospital accommodation and better food?
👉 Do you want to avoid the stress of NHS waiting lists?
Many people don't realise that private medical insurance is more affordable than they think, especially when you consider the value of faster treatment and better facilities. A great insurance policy can provide peace of mind and ensure you receive the care you need when you need it.
Benefits offered by private medical insurance
Private medical insurance provides numerous benefits that can significantly improve your healthcare experience and outcomes:Faster Access to Treatment
One of the biggest advantages is avoiding NHS waiting lists. While the NHS provides excellent care, waiting times can be lengthy. With private medical insurance, you can often receive treatment within days or weeks rather than months.
Choice of Consultant and Hospital
You can choose your preferred consultant and hospital, giving you more control over your healthcare journey. This is particularly important for complex treatments where you want a specific specialist.
Better Facilities and Accommodation
Private hospitals typically offer superior facilities, including private rooms, better food, and more comfortable surroundings. This can make your recovery more pleasant and potentially faster.
Advanced Treatments
Private medical insurance often covers treatments and medications not available on the NHS, giving you access to the latest medical advances and technologies.
Mental Health Support
Many policies include comprehensive mental health coverage, providing faster access to therapy and psychiatric care when needed.
Tax Benefits for Business Owners
If you're self-employed or a business owner, private medical insurance premiums can be tax-deductible, making it a cost-effective way to protect your health and your business.
Peace of Mind
Knowing you have access to private healthcare when you need it provides invaluable peace of mind, especially for those with ongoing health conditions or concerns about NHS capacity.
Private medical insurance is particularly valuable for those who want to take control of their healthcare journey and ensure they receive the best possible treatment when they need it most.
Important Fact!
We can look at a more suitable option mid-term!
Why is it important to get private medical insurance early?
👉 Many people are very thankful that they had their private medical insurance cover in place before running into some serious health issues. Private medical insurance is as important as life insurance for protecting your family's finances.👉 We insure our cars, houses, and even our phones! Yet our health is the most precious thing we have.
Easily one of the most important insurance purchases an individual or family can make in their lifetime, the decision to buy private medical insurance can be made much simpler with the help of FCA-authorised advisers. They are the specialists who do the searching and analysis helping people choose between various types of private medical insurance policies available in the market, including different levels of cover and policy types most suitable to the client's individual circumstances.
It certainly won't do any harm if you speak with one of our experienced insurance experts who are passionate about advising people on financial matters related to private medical insurance and are keen to provide you with a free consultation.
You can discuss with them in detail what affordable private medical insurance plan for the necessary peace of mind they would recommend! WeCovr works with some of the best advisers in the market.
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