Private healthcare.. worth it?

[00snook]

Worth getting as long as you dont expect any pre-existing issues to be covered. In other words if you have already seen your GP about a specific medical problem, the chances are that private cover won't cover it.

This is definitely good advice; however certain policies will cover pre-existing conditions.

I have had private for a few years and required two knee and a back op in that time. The standard of service and healthcare is superb.

Definitely worth it in my opinion. £50-60 per month per person is a reasonable price; however you can get this cheaper for couples, families etc.

I have always been with BUPA and cannot fault them. Even get physio via them too.

 

[Devante]

Everything is fine. Thanks for all comment. But there is some issue with the share link that is
not working properly. I'm just wondering that why is it happening. Can you see the problem?
regards

 

[The Oldman]

Everything is fine. Thanks for all comment. But there is some issue with the share link that is
not working properly. I'm just wondering that why is it happening. Can you see the problem?
regards

Not sure I follow this so cannot help

 

[piersa]

very very simple. If you can afford it, do it.

 

[Biscuit]

Starting a new job on Monday and it offers Private health care and dentistry.

I'm very lucky and will be taking it up!

 

[cloud]

I needed to use my policy a couple of months back, and I'm glad I had it.

It's not just the food and drink, the bedside manner, politeness and a room to yourself. You can basically pick the appointment time and date to suit, which for me a as a working parent was essential.

 

[disgruntled h blocker]

I have private healthcare through my employers and find it's a mixed blessing. Basically, it's great if you get something which can be 'fixed and sorted' such as a sports injury, but if you have something long term and chronic I think you are better off (from my experience) getting the initial treatment and diagnosis on private, and then switch back to the NHS for long-term treatment. This is because you only have a set budget each year for things like out-patient treatment - in my case, say £1500 which is only a few visits, and excludes items such as tests which eat into this.

My treatment by my local private hospital has been rather poor - had an op before Christmas last year, and the surgeon couldn't be contacted over Christmas so was left in limbo for some time. In addition to this I was given a rather intrusive examination which required me to take some disgusting prep. I was rather fed up when I was told there was an admin mistake and I shouldn't have the test now - but I told them that as I had the prep, I was having it anyway...

But it's great for MRI scans and stuff like that, even if it's taken at the local NHS hospital - you just jump the queue a bit when the NHS staff are not using it.

 

[APACHE]

Just remember, it's like any insurance policy, claim once you'll alright, have the same again or an ongoing problem lookout. The private sector in the USA provides great care but if you become long term ill tje costs are shocking and the cost rises as you grow older, the system is bascially the same here.

 

[Since1982]

I've made very good use of both the NHS and my employer funded private healthcare over the last 18 months. When I got seriously and life threateningly sick the NHS was fantastic in diagnosing me, keeping me alive, doing some major surgery and getting me well enough to get home. For the follow up surgery and care I used my private insurance and the key benefit was seeing a consultant and getting into hospital on dates that suited me. The care in the private sector (Woodingdean and Haywards Heath) was very good but more than once I wished I was back at the Royal Sussex when things were going a bit wrong - there is a level of specialist care that only the NHS can provide. I pay for my wife and boys to have private cover and I would always recommend it.

 

[tedebear]

What always made me laugh was in Australia a friend of mine who has become quite the knee specialist does his Medicare (NHS) appointments in the morning, then does his private (private insurance) customers in the afternoon, so its not as if you're getting a better doctor because you're paying! I think that happens a bit in this country as well. The only difference is the people on private were diagnosed the week before and the people on public the month before.

I think with knees, hips and the like routine sort of injury related/standard operations, on private you pay to be seen and treated sooner. When it comes to cancers and long term life threatening illnesses the NHS is the place to be.

We're lucky in the new year I'll have the opportunity to elect private medical and dental through my work following my promotion. I'll be taking it up, simply as I can now afford it and you never know whats around the corner.

 

[Vegas Seagull]

I've experienced both and the speed of service with private is the main benefit. The consultants you see are pretty much the same although with private you are normally guaranteed to see the consultant rather than a trainee! As for hospital stays, yes you get a private room but that can be pretty dull if you are stuck in there for a week like I was.

As for the cost, £40ish is not the cost of the healthcare but the tax you pay on the value of the benefit. When I left my last company, I was quoted £250 a month to cover my wife, child and myself.

Not if you have a heart attack/stroke it's not, you'll end up in NHS A&E however much paid & however long you've been private : they can't handle it

 

[Gazwag]

Not if you have a heart attack/stroke it's not, you'll end up in NHS A&E however much paid & however long you've been private : they can't handle it

Err yeah of course they can't because that's not what they are built for

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

Starting a new job on Monday and it offers Private health care and dentistry.

I'm very lucky and will be taking it up!

plus the tax on it at the end of the finacial year

 

[SICKASAGULL]

If you are young and can afford it, take it, the longer you leave it the more expensive it is.

 

[patchamalbion]

fit, young and healthy - take it now! Bupa, PruProtect and now Exeter Family Friendly offer decent cover and you can play around with the details to fit within a budget

 

[jakarta]

An absolute essential if you work for yourself I would say, 20+ years of working for someone else and never needed Hospital treatment, 4 years of working for myself and have had to have 2 (thankfully minor) operations.

Went private for both, sadly first one I had to pay for, subsequently got private health insurance through my business which I used for my op last year. As has been stated already you dont get a 'better' surgeon, but you do get your operation when you want/need it which if you are the Company Workforce is vital......