If you're a self-employed Carpenter / Joiner, there's no employer sick pay behind you. If illness or injury stops you working, your income can stop too – and NHS waiting times for diagnostics, specialist appointments and treatment can stretch to weeks or months. Private medical insurance is one way to shorten that wait.
The biggest health risk for a self-employed Carpenter / Joiner
Vibration white finger (HAVS)
Daily use of power tools — sanders, jigsaws, routers — exposes carpenters to hand-arm vibration, causing HAVS: numbness, tingling, and loss of grip that can become permanent.
How private health insurance can help
Health cover funds specialist occupational health assessment, nerve conduction studies, and physiotherapy to manage symptoms before permanent damage occurs.
Depending on the policy you choose, private medical insurance can include:
- Faster access to specialist consultants and outpatient appointments
- Diagnostic scans such as MRI, CT, X-ray and ultrasound
- Surgical assessment and treatment for eligible conditions
- Physiotherapy and rehabilitation (usually as an optional or limited benefit)
- Mental health support, such as counselling and CBT (cover varies by insurer and plan)
Cover, limits and exclusions differ between insurers. Most policies don't cover pre-existing conditions or chronic conditions, and a GP referral is often needed before a claim. An adviser can explain what applies to each policy.
Protecting your income as well as your health
Private medical insurance pays for treatment, not lost earnings. Many self-employed people also look at income protection or critical illness cover alongside it. Our advisers can talk you through the options.
How it works
- Get a quote – tell us about your work and what you want covered, using the form on this page.
- Compare policies – an adviser compares plans from leading UK insurers and recommends suitable options.
- Get covered – choose your plan, and start your cover once it's confirmed by your insurer.
Want to know more? Read our guides to individual health insurance and business health insurance.
