Protection and health insurer, the Exeter, has announced the inclusion of a new guided option to its five-star Defaqto-rated Health+ product, providing wider choice and a lower cost alternative for those looking to access private healthcare.

The Exeter’s recent Challenging Times research into the health and financial fears of UK workers, found that 53% of respondents felt affordability was a barrier to buying insurance.

In conjunction with adviser feedback and the growing market trend toward guided options, the Exeter hopes this new addition will provide more people with access to affordable health insurance.

The Health+ guided option provides members with a shortlist of suitable specialists to treat a condition at the point of claim and aims to recommend specialists convenient to a member’s location. In addition, by securing preferential fees with their chosen specialists, the Exeter is able to pass savings onto members in the form of lower premiums.

By offering a more affordable product option, the Exeter hopes to provide more customers with peace of mind over their health and wellbeing in an increasingly difficult time without sacrificing quality.

Those opting to apply for health insurance using the guided option will benefit from the Exeter’s Health+ cover, which includes core cover, with unlimited in-patient & day-patient treatment, cancer cover, and a range of benefit add-ons, as well as access to added support through HealthWise, the Exeter’s member benefits offering, providing a range of services including remote GP appointments, physiotherapy sessions and mental health consultations.

Karen Woodley (pictured), head of healthcare distribution at the Exeter, said: “At a time when households are faced with a range of financial and health challenges, the ability to access private healthcare solutions may seem further out of reach than before for many people.

“With the addition of the guided specialist option to our Health+ product, we can provide even greater flexibility for those looking to access lower-cost private alternatives without compromising on the speed or quality of care they receive.”