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Bad breath is something that we may all have been conscious of at some point in our lives, and one of the reasons why we may buy gum and mints, to keep our breath minty fresh. But could there be more to bad breath than just brushing your teeth and having the odd minty treat?

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Nothing compares to a long warm bath after a cold day. Except an ice-cold shower after a sizzling day out in the summer sun. Regardless of what you prefer, there are a number of potential advantages and disadvantages to the way you take your shower. After reading this article, you may even want to think about changing your showering routine!

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A recent article in the Guardian says that between 10% - 25% of adults are allergic to pollen and this allergy (also referred to as ‘hay fever’) can provide a lot of discomfort for sufferers.  If you are one of the hay fever sufferers, we have put together some tips for how to deal with it.

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It might sound odd to hear that the bacteria that lives in your gut may affect your mood, but could such a thing be possible? Some researchers believe that it could.

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The gluten free market has boomed over the past few years and is thought to be worth over £200 million. The BBC reports that UK supermarkets are increasingly stocking their ‘free from’ shelves, particularly with products without dairy or gluten. Consumers are now associating this type of products with a natural and healthy lifestyle in general and not just an alternative for people suffering from an intolerance to these foods. In this article we will focus on gluten related disorders and on the benefits and disadvantages of a gluten free diet.

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Losing hair is a normal part of life, according to the NHS we lose between 50 to 100 hairs a day usually without noticing. Despite this, hair loss can be very upsetting for some and it can happen to anyone. It’s important to speak out about hair loss and break any stigmas.

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Turmeric is commonly used in curries, and you may use it to add spice to many dishes. It has long been considered an Indian home remedy for many illnesses because of its claimed anti-oxidant properties, but how truthful are these claims and are these backed by scientific research?

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Following feedback, we’ve taken the opportunity to review and increase the limits for the optional psychiatric cover on our Freedom Elite product.

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Could you imagine a world without antibiotics? Potentially deadly infections and diseases unable to be treated by the infection-fighting drug. This could be a dangerous future, with the government warning that without effective antibiotics, even routine operations and minor surgery could become high risk procedures. In this article we’ll be looking at what we need to know about antibiotic resistance and the things we can do to stop it or limit its effects.

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We spend around a third of our lives asleep, according to the Mental Health Foundation. Sleep is a necessity for all of us, our bodies need it to function just as much as we need food, drink and air to breath. The NHS reveals that not only can lack of sleep leave you feeling grumpy and lacking focus, it can also put you at risk of serious medical conditions. It is important to understand the reasons that may be causing your lack of sleep, and how to solve them.

Difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep for long enough to feel refreshed the next day is also known as insomnia, according to the NHS. Here are 7 reasons that could affect our sleep and different ways to help solve them.
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According to a YouGov survey reported in the Guardian, 61% of British people were reported to have bought foods because they were promoted as superfoods, possibly fuelled by the increased awareness around healthy eating and natural foods movement. With more and more people opting for superfoods, are they truly ‘super’ or are we being misled? 
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Dementia can have a very detrimental and upsetting effect on sufferers and their families, yet incidence of the syndrome is on the rise. Alzheimer’s Society revealed that there are 850,000 people with dementia currently in the UK, with this number predicted to rise to over 1 million by 2025 and 2 million by 2051. Knowing what the risk factors are and taking action now could help you reduce the risk of developing dementia in older age.
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Everyone will feel anxious at some point in their lives: feeling nervous with the sensation of butterflies fluttering in your stomach. Feeling anxious from time to time is normal, but for those who suffer with anxiety, that anxious feeling is more frequent and much stronger. Anxiety UK reports how common anxiety is in the UK, with more than 1 in 10 people likely to have a ‘disabling anxiety disorder’ at some stage in their life. 
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Packed with nearly 90 billion nerve cells and weighing just over three pounds, the human brain is full of many wonders, many of them still left undiscovered. Uncover 5 unusual things that you probably didn’t know about your brain.
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Martin and Ashley from Lesson Moore, an independent intermediary based in the West Country visited our offices to gain an insight into how we work and to spend time with the underwriting and claims teams.  more

Tis’ the season to be jolly and with it, a number of bad habits may become established that could seriously affect your health and joy. Here are some tips to help you to stay healthy over this Christmas period.
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As 2017 draws to a close, the Freedom Health Insurance team would like to thank all our clients and brokers for choosing and working with us. Because of you, 2017 has been a very busy and successful year. As 2017 draws to a close, the Freedom Health Insurance team would like to thank all our clients and brokers for choosing and working with us. Because of you, 2017 has been a very busy and successful year. 
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Most of us have seasons that we don’t particularly look forward to, with our mood sometimes going from energetic in the summer to sleeping and eating more in the winter. This is quite natural – but if the change in seasons has a bigger effect on your mood that leads to feelings of depression, you could be suffering from SAD, a mental health disorder. 
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Not so long ago, seasonal eating wasn’t seen as a food trend – this was just the way we ate. Nowadays we can go into a supermarket at any time of the year and find apples, carrots, potatoes and almost any type of fruit and veg even if they are not in season. Although they are available all year round, eating seasonally has its own benefits.
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Did you know that the longest moustache in the world is 4.29 m (14ft) long!? That’s no easy feat but our Freedom team has set themselves a similar challenge (though on a smaller scale), all for a good cause. This November, our brave guys (and ladies) will be growing their moustaches (or wearing fake ones) to support the #Movember movement and raise money and awareness for men’s health.
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More great news. Freedom Health Insurance has been shortlisted at the 2018 Moneyfacts Consumer Awards in the Health Insurance Provider of the Year category. But now we need your help!
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Last Thursday night saw the announcement of the winners of the highly coveted 2017 Health Insurance Awards. more

For those who aren’t allergic to nuts but still don’t eat them, it may be time to bring them into your diet. According to the Independent a handful of nuts a day can help keep the doctor and undertaker away, but how true is this and what health benefits do nuts offer us? 
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With the rise of cafes, restaurants and fast food outlets in the UK over the last 5 years (their numbers grew by 6,000), Britons are now drinking more coffee than ever, with an estimated 2.1 billion coffees being consumed annually outside the home. With this steep rise in coffee consumption, many are probably asking themselves: is coffee healthy for us? 
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Term has started for many new university students, as exciting as this new chapter can be it is important to remember to look after your health and wellbeing.  more

The shortlists for this year’s Health Insurance Awards have been announced and we are delighted to have been voted onto the shortlist in two categories: Best Customer Service by a Provider and Best Individual PMI Provider.
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According to the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) life expectancy in the UK has doubled over the last 200 years and approximately 16% of the population is aged over 65 years. As you get older, it’s even more important to stay active if you want to stay healthy and maintain your independence later in life, according to the NHS. 
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The hype surrounding the health benefits of coconut oil is hard to miss. The Guardian reports that celebrity endorsements have helped raise UK sales of coconut oil over the past four years from £1m to a staggering £16.4m last year. But are the claims of the oil’s health benefits true? Or are some of these a double-edged sword? 
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Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a common and often preventable cause of death worldwide. It affects about one in every 1,000 people in the UK according to the NHS Choices and over 10 million people in Europe and the USA, according to the World Thrombosis Day organisation. 
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Yoga and meditation have existed for many thousands of years and recently they have grown in popularity with the trend in following a health-conscious lifestyle. While some people are still sceptical about their potential health benefits, others have fully embraced the two practices and made them part of their daily wellbeing routine. So what are the potential health benefits of yoga and meditation?
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Summer is now in full swing! And the sun is up, giving us our essential vitamin D (that helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body), summer tans, and a big smile on all our faces. Many of us love the sun and cannot wait to get out in the lovely hot weather, but we need to be careful and learn how to stay protected in the sun at all times.
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Summer is here and Wimbledon is on. The perfect time to have a glass of fresh, cold lemonade and get your tennis rackets out in this Wimbledon fever! Tennis can be a fun sport to watch and an even better sport to play, but how many of these physical and psychological health benefits of tennis were you aware of?
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We all have our daily habits, and some of them are considered to be beneficial to our health and wellbeing. However, things are not always as straight forward as advertising and media lets us believe. 
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Diabetes affects millions of people across the world and is seen by some as the disease of the 21^st Century (1). Many people already know a few general things about diabetes, but there are also many facts and figures surrounding diabetes that a lot of people may not be aware of. This article will shed light on five facts regarding diabetes that some people may be unaware of. 
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2016 has been a great year for Freedom, being shortlisted once again for both Best Customer Service by a Provider and Best Individual PMI Provider at the 2016 Health Insurance Awards. Whilst we didn’t win this year, it is a great honour to have been recognised again by brokers in two separate categories. more

The success of Freedom Health Insurance as a personal and friendly PMI business has always rested on our absolute focus on our customers.  more

A report published in 2014 by Dementia UK showed that in 2013 there were 815,827 people living with dementia within the UK (approximately 1.3% of the total population), with 775,502 of these people being aged 65 years old or over. (1) 
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In the work place, there are many different things that can be an influencer on our health and how we get ill. There are however several steps that can be taken, that can be beneficial to us and our wellbeing throughout the duration of the working week. 
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NHS Choices state that sodium is needed in everyday diets, and that salt (sodium chloride) is the main source of sodium in the UK diet. It aids activity in your nerves and muscles (1). But large quantities of salt have been suggested to be linked with various health risks.
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At a glittering ceremony in London last evening, the health insurance industry discovered who had won each of the coveted Health Insurance Awards 2016. more

According to a recent study, it is estimated that people suffering from depression are up to 60% more likely to develop diabetes (1). The study was carried out by King’s College London and examined 160,000 pairs of twins. The use of twins is thought to help explain the possible genetic links between the two illnesses. 
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Following our success at the 2015 Health Insurance Awards, we are absolutely delighted that we have been shortlisted again for 2016 in two categories.
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The concept of ‘superfood’ refers to some foods which are thought to have certain health benefits. There are many debatable opinions about what a superfood is and their effects on a person’s health, with claims that superfoods can boost intelligence and physical ability, lighten depression or slow the aging process (1). more

Sugars found in food and drinks are known as ‘free sugars’. They are often added to food or naturally occur in drinks such as fruit juice. Whilst they are high in energy, there are some concerns over the effect of having too much sugar in our daily diets. (1)
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There have been stories in the news about scientists’ ability to predict breast cancer years before the disease develops. How close are we to achieve this in practice and at a large scale? more

The fact that regular exercise is good for you is no longer a surprise for most people, nevertheless there are still health benefits of regular physical activities out there which might not be that obvious to many. We’ve found the facts, proven by scientists, which explain some of the less known ways in which regular exercise can help to improve or maintain your health. more

A bad night’s sleep could make you feel a little grumpy in the morning, but how does it affect your body and long term health? We’ve collected together details from a number of respected medical sources so that you see what losing a few hours of shut-eye might do – and even when sleep deprivation might actually be beneficial. more

You may have seen the story in the news about the three-year-old girl in America who developed type 2 diabetes ⁽¹⁾. One of the doctors involved tentatively suggests that this may be the youngest case of type 2 diabetes in the world, but it is difficult to know for certain as not all cases of diabetes are recorded. more

Freedom Health Insurance has created a list of dos and don'ts for patients to help to reduce the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. more

2015 was a pivotal year for Freedom with our first win at the Health Insurance Awards. Over the last couple of years, our teams have worked tirelessly to enhance the service we provide to all our customers, and we are delighted that our hard work was recognised through the winning of the Best Customer Service by a Provider at the Health Insurance Awards 2015. more

You may have seen in the news that Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn recently created a new role in his shadow cabinet – a dedicated Minister for Mental Health. With that in mind, we want to offer some further information about how mental health issues affect people in the UK, and explain what some of the most common disorders are. more

In the past few years, vaping – the use of e-cigarettes – has become more popular. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) estimates that in the UK today, there are 2.6 million adults using electronic cigarettes (1), and the amount of current smokers who also use the devices has risen from 2.7% in 2010 to 17.6% in 2014 (1). more

At a glittering ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel last Thursday, Freedom Health Insurance was announced as the winner of one of the industry’s most coveted awards.
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Freedom is absolutely delighted to have been shortlisted for not just one, but two Awards at the Health Insurance Awards 2015. more

According to Alzheimer’s Research UK and the Office of Health Economics, 32% of people born in the UK in 2015 will get dementia in their lifetime.  more

You may have heard stories about how sugar can affect your health, but it can sometimes be difficult to separate the facts from fiction. 
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The NHS has announced that it plans to create laboratory-produced blood which will be ready for human trials within two years (1). The synthetic blood will be created using the stem cells from adult donors’ blood, or from the umbilical cord of newborn babies (1) with the mothers’ consent.
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NHS England has recently launched plans which aim to improve survival rates for those with cancer and save 8,000 more lives every year . more

A recent study has found that regular exercise can help keep the brain healthy and active by delivering a steady flow of oxygenated blood to the brain. 
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There is much evidence which shows that sitting down for too long is bad for your health. Living a sedentary lifestyle where we spend a long time sitting in front of a TV, working on a computer or commuting is a common theme of the modern world. 
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Naturally occurring antioxidants found in cocoa beans, called flavanols, could help improve age-related memory decline, according to a recent US study published in Nature Neuroscience  more

Women with a low risk of complications should be encouraged to give birth at midwife-led units or at home if that is their preference, rather than traditional labour wards, says the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).  more

A new study, published in the Occupational and Environmental Medicine journal, shows that working antisocial hours for long periods of time (10 or more years) can prematurely age the brain . more

New figures published by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that Britain lost an estimated 28.2 million working days in 2013/14 due to work-related ill health or injury.   more

According to the NHS Choices website, taking regular low-dose aspirin could be beneficial for some people by reducing the risk of having a stroke or heart attack.  more

The number of children in hospital diagnosed with a vitamin D deficiency has tripled in the last four years, according to a recent survey carried out by the public health awareness campaign Vitamin D Mission.
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A new World Green Building Council (WGBC) report has found that there is “overwhelming evidence” that office design can significantly impact on the health, wellbeing and productivity of employees.
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Researchers at Oxford University have found that dry roasted peanuts are more likely to spark an allergy to peanuts than raw peanuts.
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It has been widely reported by the Daily Mail ⁽¹⁾ and the BBC ⁽²⁾ that regular exercise can keep the brain sharp, active, and robust, possibly slowing down or even preventing the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is most common in men and women with prior family history of the disease ⁽³⁾; however, no-one is risk-free. Those suffering from the disease develop certain characteristics such as memory loss, poor cognitive functioning and physical and mental weakness. more

Freedom has improved its Elite Hospital List to give more clients access to additional top London facilities.
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Access to new cancer treatments are not the same between England and Wales more

More people are getting private health insurance more

People who eat meat or fish, less than once a week, have a lower risk of death more

New plans for GP inspections will be unveiled this week more

The new telephone 111 service may be channeling people into A&E more

Measles is a nasty and potentially very serious viral illness.  It is highly infectious in air via water droplets we exhale and inhale. Complications are quite common and impact around 20% of victims. These include vomiting,  diarrhoea, meningitis, pneumonia, blindness and even death.  We are seeing around 10% of patents requiring treatment in hospital during the current epidemic.


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Patients should stay away from dangerous hospitals warn GPs in an extraordinary attack on dropping NHS standards in hospitals. more

The Care Quality Commission, has extended its inquiry into hospitals with high death rates to a total of 14 NHS hospitals and named the panel.  more

The ‘Compassion in Practice’  document has also been recently published to support this change in the culture of the NHS more

Changes in ESA and disabilities benefits may force people to take jobs they do not want more

Antibiotic resistance may be a bigger problem than global warming, warned the Chief Medical Officer for England - Prof Dame Sally Davies. more

Boys born in 2015 will have almost three times the risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer compared to those born in 1990. more

Nine out of ten sunbeds may break the UK safety rules. more

NHS hospitals do not have enough staff “to keep people safe and meet their health and welfare needs” more

Children who eat fast food more than three times are week may be more likely to develop allergic diseases such as asthma, eczema, and rhinitis more

It’s time for parents to find easy ways of creating healthy lifestyle habits. more

New Year, new food... Join Change4Life! more

New research suggests obesity, may be related not just to the types of food you eat, or how much exercise you take, but may in fact due to a bacterial infection. more

After one of the busiest weeks ever for the ambulance services in England, with up to 30% increase in calls, the situation is likely to continue over Christmas, warns Peter Bradley, the national director of ambulance services. more

See coverage Freedom Health at the HI awards 2012 more

December is a time for Christmas, presents and Santa Claus. But this year, don’t the Lapland traveller be the only one sporting a beard with seasonal greetings. more

SAD and SAD lights more

Dr Foster report NHS at breaking point with some hospitals 100% full. The Dr Foster Hospital Guide 2012 reports occupancy rates at many hospitals can reach 100%, with the average mid-week occupancy in the NHS is 88%  yet for much of the year most NHS hospitals are experiencing occupancy rates over 90%, we discuss what this may mean for your care. more

Giving birth is a life changing experience and as popular television shows such as One Born Every Minute and its equally successful follow-on One Born Every Minute – What Happened Next suggest, new parents often have a difficult time adapting to their new role. more

An investigation into previously unreleased data around serious incidents in NHS Scotland will be aired this evening. more

The Capio Nightingale Hospital, has launched the UK’s first dedicated obesity service that will use a pioneering programme of psychological treatment to help people who are finding it difficult to loose weight. more

Being neighbourly this winter is even more important than ever. more

MRSA in hospitals is really bad news, but new research may point to a new way of reducing infection. more

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency warn of reactions including cardiac arrest to Chlorhexidine more

The BBC’s Inside Out documentary highlighted the effect of the ‘post-code’ lottery for cancer treatment more

Annual cost of cancer in the UK is £15.8 billion. more

A new report shows that a significant ‘minority’ of NHS trusts could go bankrupt. more

Media scare stories about the Liverpool Care End of life PathwayV news about the Liverpool Care Pathway and the sums hospitals have been given to ‘end patients lives early’.  more

Under new health reforms, private firms are able to bid and provide NHS services. more

The NHS needs to take a fresh look at rare diseases. more

More women dying from Heart Attacks than Breast Cancer according to report by BHF more

Out of the armchair and into the outdoors more

Stand Up to Cancer with the Stand of Fame more

NHS Struggles yet Ward Rounds are still key in the Private Sector… more

Bariatric Surgery: Too Lean a Service? (2012) finds concerns over outcomes and quality of pre and post surgery support more

For Global Handwashing Day we look at  how washing your hands could save you from serious illness. more

NHS Carve Up – says shadow health secretary Andy Burnham. more

The department of health has released guidance for the NHS charges for overseas visitors. This means that patients who use the NHS service but are not ‘settled’ in the UK must pay for the use of NHS hospitals (GPs and other primary (community) based NHS services are not included). more

Health Tourists leave UK tax payer to pick up the bill, new BBC Panorama to investigate.  more

An investigation by Corporate Watch suggests that privatisation of the pathology services at both King’s College Hospital and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital Trust to the giant Serco may be responsible for clinical errors, financial losses and loss of staff morale. more

Quality of care in the NHS may suffer as a result of financial burdens more

Whooping cough is very serious in very young children and cases are at the worst seen for the past 20 years according to the department of health. 

Vaccine to be offered to all pregnant women as of Monday 1st October 2012. 

Information on whooping cough prevention, symptoms and treatment options. more

The Department of Health launches new campaign to increase awareness of dementia. more

Mixed sex accommodation breaches almost 200 a month. more

Complaints about doctors are at a record high according to a report by the  General Medical Council (GMC) which is released today. more

Up to 70% of UK GPs are unable to refer a patient for further treatment on the NHS according to a report carried out by ComRes and commissioned by the private healthcare provider BMI Healthcare. more

The study investigated the average time for consultant-led Referral to Treatment (RTT) during the month of July 2012 in England reported on both the length of waiting time and how many patients were seen within 18 weeks of referral. more

Rare and uncommon conditions will be nationally commissioned from April 2013. more

World class research takes place at Leicester’s Hospitals more

NHS hospitals are being encouraged by the Government to set up branches abroad in an effort to generate income for NHS service. more

A new report 'Older People and Emergency Bed Use - Exploring Variation' highlights a fourfold variation in the rate of hospital bed use by older people admitted as an emergency more

Research by ABTA (Consumer Trends) highlights that as many as one in five British holidaymakers are travelling  uninsured. more

Health living pharmacies may soon be on your high street more

Happiness may be dependent on where you live... more

The criteria for referring patients to cancer specialists may need changing... more

The Department of Health has announced that physiotherapists and podiatrists will be authorised to prescribe painkillers and anti-inflammatories by 2014. more

A recent survey, shows that there are an increasing number of GPs asking patients about private healthcare.

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