Essential Surgery Plan is a new cover from Medicash. It pays subscribers a tax-free lump sum of up to £6,000 when they undergo a surgical procedure that requires general anaesthetic.
There are no restrictions on how the benefit is used, the cash may well supplement lost earnings, fund convalescence care or care at home, pay for a well earned rest or be used to source NHS or private individual treatment.
"We believe that this unique plan gives people a real choice when they have to have an operation. The cash will put the patient in control," said Bill Gaywood, Chief Executive of Medicash - the third largest provider of health cash plans in the UK.
Gaywood said ESP had been introduced as a natural extension of the organisation's health cash plans, which pay lump sums to Medicash's 220,000 members to help with the cost of items such as spectacles, or treatment including dental work.
"There is clearly a well-established need for assistance in these areas, and the new plan allows us to extend the scope of the help that Medicash can give in times of need," he added.
The Essential Surgery Plan pays out if surgery is performed under general anaesthetic and it is medically necessary - it is not designed to pay for cosmetic enhancement surgery for example.
One claim is allowed in a 12-month period, and restriction periods apply for treatment related to pre-existing conditions. Once the restriction period has come to an end, the plan will also cover chronic conditions requiring surgery.
