Nhs vs private health care

[melted welly]

I’m in my 40s wife late 30s, 2 kids under 8.

we’re all fit and healthy, so is now the time to consider private health insurance?

Does anyone do this already?

Quick internet search gives a basic annual premium for me of £1250. Doesn’t seem excessive.

I can’t see the future nhs being anything like it’s former self. It’s gonna be phone/internet based primary contact, perhaps certain physio type services cut, longer waits for appointments etc. Just my opinion.

Not had any negative experience that’s prompted this, I just think we’ve not begun to feel the repercussions of the past 17months, government got no money, nhs needs lot of money, things gonna change, so looking at alternatives.

 

[Tomr10]

Important to get the right cover I have it through work and our old policy was better than current. However I only pay about £72 a month before tax. Over the years it’s always been a re assurance and a lot have benefits to consider like x amount of hours Phisio included or chiropodist appointments. Any employers out there well worth looking into offering as a benefit

 

[Lowland1]

I’m in my 40s wife late 30s, 2 kids under 8.

we’re all fit and healthy, so is now the time to consider private health insurance?

Does anyone do this already?

Quick internet search gives a basic annual premium for me of £1250. Doesn’t seem excessive.

I can’t see the future nhs being anything like it’s former self. It’s gonna be phone/internet based primary contact, perhaps certain physio type services cut, longer waits for appointments etc. Just my opinion.

Not had any negative experience that’s prompted this, I just think we’ve not begun to feel the repercussions of the past 17months, government got no money, nhs needs lot of money, things gonna change, so looking at alternatives.

£1250 seems very cheap who is it with. We pay close to £10,000 per year for two mid fifty year olds and a 20 and 21 year old with BUPA. We have had it for 20 years and have never claimed but the premiums go up every year. However living where we do we don’t have much choice. But my father had his hips done privately as there was a wait of several years if not and his care on the NHS after his heart attack was disgraceful something i wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy so if you can afford it sign up sooner rather than later.

 

[Clive]

I’m in my 40s wife late 30s, 2 kids under 8.

we’re all fit and healthy, so is now the time to consider private health insurance?

Does anyone do this already?

Quick internet search gives a basic annual premium for me of £1250. Doesn’t seem excessive.

I can’t see the future nhs being anything like it’s former self. It’s gonna be phone/internet based primary contact, perhaps certain physio type services cut, longer waits for appointments etc. Just my opinion.

Not had any negative experience that’s prompted this, I just think we’ve not begun to feel the repercussions of the past 17months, government got no money, nhs needs lot of money, things gonna change, so looking at alternatives.

no brainier, health should be everyones number 1 priority

that said when things get life threatening the NHS is very good

 

[Clive]

£1250 seems very cheap who is it with. We pay close to £10,000 per year for two mid fifty year olds and a 20 and 21 year old with BUPA. We have had it for 20 years and have never claimed but the premiums go up every year. However living where we do we don’t have much choice. But my father had his hips done privately as there was a wait of several years if not and his care on the NHS after his heart attack was disgraceful something i wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy so if you afford it sign up sooner rather than later.

that sound expensive ?, it’s cover that’s worth shopping around for every renewal, like gas, electricity and insurance loyalty doesn’t pay

 

[MF-ANDY]

Do you need full health care?
My one kicks in if the NHS can't certain things within a certain time.

 

[melted welly]

£1250 seems very cheap who is it with. We pay close to £10,000 per year for two mid fifty year olds and a 20 and 21 year old with BUPA. We have had it for 20 years and have never claimed but the premiums go up every year. However living where we do we don’t have much choice. But my father had his hips done privately as there was a wait of several years if not and his care on the NHS after his heart attack was disgraceful something i wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy so if you afford it sign up sooner rather than later.

It was just off a quick google search. Was with bupa. Didn’t read too much into the details I must admit.

 

[melted welly]

Do you need full health care?
My one kicks in if the NHS can't certain things within a certain time.

Probably not, what sort of things does that cover?
We’ve a friend who works in nhs, she was saying she thought that amongst other services, access to mri scans, and physio would not be so readily available.

 

[Netherfield]

I’m in my 40s wife late 30s, 2 kids under 8.

we’re all fit and healthy, so is now the time to consider private health insurance?

Does anyone do this already?

Quick internet search gives a basic annual premium for me of £1250. Doesn’t seem excessive.

I can’t see the future nhs being anything like it’s former self. It’s gonna be phone/internet based primary contact, perhaps certain physio type services cut, longer waits for appointments etc. Just my opinion.

Not had any negative experience that’s prompted this, I just think we’ve not begun to feel the repercussions of the past 17months, government got no money, nhs needs lot of money, things gonna change, so looking at alternatives.

The family used to be with PPP years ago, when some of it was tax deductable, at the time it was very useful, if just for the fact you could pick your own time if not completely urgent, and many times it would be the top man in the area that you were seeing.

At your ages the cost might seem alright, but as you get older the premiums rise and rise, and of course as you get older you're more likely to need something doing.

An alternative is to self insure, put the money in a seperate account that you would pay the insurers, which is fine if you don't need to call on it for a good few years, another drawback to this is nothing is paying any interest to build the fund up., and it's tempting to think you can borrow from the fund for a capital purchase and replace it later on, but don't or can't.

 

[Lowland1]

that sound expensive ?, it’s cover that’s worth shopping around for every renewal, like gas, electricity and insurance loyalty doesn’t pay

I think because it’s worldwide cover it’s more expensive we have looked around but i’m not sure the cover we would recieve would be the same. When my kids were at school they had BUPA through the school for about £ 150 a year so i think you do get bulk discounts. We are probably paying for security but peace of mind is very important. What you say about loyalty not paying unfortunately is very true by changing insurance companies my son has just saved £ 500 on his car insurance by becoming someones new customer.

 

[cowmop]

The family used to be with PPP years ago, when some of it was tax deductable, at the time it was very useful, if just for the fact you could pick your own time if not completely urgent, and many times it would be the top man in the area that you were seeing.

At your ages the cost might seem alright, but as you get older the premiums rise and rise, and of course as you get older you're more likely to need something doing.

An alternative is to self insure, put the money in a seperate account that you would pay the insurers, which is fine if you don't need to call on it for a good few years, another drawback to this is nothing is paying any interest to build the fund up., and it's tempting to think you can borrow from the fund for a capital purchase and replace it later on, but don't or can't.

I do this with my dogs.
£60 a month in a old coffee tin and never touch it.
It's the amount they wanted for 2 collies but I feel slightly smug
in the feeling that I still have the money rather than the insurance company.
I suppose the method I use is only any good once you have a bulging tin, but if you have not started or have no cover yet then you have the option to start with this method.

 

[ollie989898]

It is worth noting that private healthcare will categorically not cover all healthcare requirements.

Probably worth £1200 a year if you get in the wars and need a rapid MRI/CT scan as you will be seen the same day. your treatment might not actually change.

 

[ollie989898]

I’m in my 40s wife late 30s, 2 kids under 8.

we’re all fit and healthy, so is now the time to consider private health insurance?

Does anyone do this already?

Quick internet search gives a basic annual premium for me of £1250. Doesn’t seem excessive.

I can’t see the future nhs being anything like it’s former self. It’s gonna be phone/internet based primary contact, perhaps certain physio type services cut, longer waits for appointments etc. Just my opinion.

Not had any negative experience that’s prompted this, I just think we’ve not begun to feel the repercussions of the past 17months, government got no money, nhs needs lot of money, things gonna change, so looking at alternatives.

This is essentially what we pay.

 

[Netherfield]

Or as dad said when the costs climbed rapidly, I've enough land I can always sell a bit if me or your mum needs it urgently.

He died age 95 from an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, no amount of private health care would have made a difference, the specialist said operating would more than likely kill him before the AAA did.

 

[melted welly]

This is essentially what we pay.

How do you mean?

I’m wondering whether it’s worthwhile having so that when one of us is ill, we can see a person, not get shunted between 101 and the practice receptionist.

Speaking to wife tonight, apparently there’s a parent at the school, was ill for weeks, couldn’t eat, got dosed up on painkillers, so much so he was incoherent for 10 days, 2 visits from paramedic, more pain relief. GP “closed”, treatment done via 101 and paramedic visits. Turns out it was sepsis, he’s out of hospital now, still bedbound with a scar that runs from mid thigh to navel and then continues at 90 degrees across his stomach by all accounts.

If this is where we’re heading, we’ll be keeping the Kia to >200k miles and I’m putting my money into private healthcare rather than see something like that happen to one of mine.

 

[Old apprentice]

We have private health care my daughter has spent over 200days in private hospitals I could fill a page withe what happensd in nhs with my daughter. How about this discharge from hospital with sepsis and gangrene when she came home you could see she was ill there are some very good doctors and prophasers in London one of the times she spent in London 84 days cost the insurance company 150000 just to stay there not including treatments I dread to think what would have happened if it wasn't for the private sector. My wife was ill one morning and we have a blood preasure monitor it was 200 over 100 can't remember the end numbers local GPS would not see her only nurse word back from him come back in a fortnight immediately we looked up a privet doctor he could not believe it put her on medication he monitored the situation until it settled local GPS has to give her the medication he prescribed now. The gentalman is forien could not have wished for such a pleasant chap . Also a very high percentage of doctors in London are not British some Exelent people down there from all over the world.

 

[johnb5555]

I looked into private medical insurance 10+ years ago it was some of the small print that stopped me going ahead.
After treatment you were not covered for the same illness again within the next 5/10 years

 

[ollie989898]

How do you mean?

I’m wondering whether it’s worthwhile having so that when one of us is ill, we can see a person, not get shunted between 101 and the practice receptionist.

Speaking to wife tonight, apparently there’s a parent at the school, was ill for weeks, couldn’t eat, got dosed up on painkillers, so much so he was incoherent for 10 days, 2 visits from paramedic, more pain relief. GP “closed”, treatment done via 101 and paramedic visits. Turns out it was sepsis, he’s out of hospital now, still bedbound with a scar that runs from mid thigh to navel and then continues at 90 degrees across his stomach by all accounts.

If this is where we’re heading, we’ll be keeping the Kia to >200k miles and I’m putting my money into private healthcare rather than see something like that happen to one of mine.

I can't remember exactly but I believe our premium is around £120 a month.

I do find this all very confusing in all honesty. One does not need to see their GP for this kind of thing and certainly their GP is not the only route into acute care. I don't understand why people are so fixated on seeing a GP. Paramedics or even your local MIU can and do send people into acute care setting. If my wife was that ill I would take her to the hospital myself and insist she sat in AMU until they had found out what was wrong. In the case you describe I'm not sure how private healthcare would have helped- you still need to know who to see and in some cases would need to be referred to them by your GP anyway.

Private healthcare is useful for some things and not others.

 

[Still Farming]

Same as critical illness cover.
Most thing's you'll never get in this Country a doctor told me.
NHS Fantastic it's just the use and abuse and A holes milking it.
If your worried that much agsinst the NHS , just pay for treatment as and when want private possibly???

 

[melted welly]

I can't remember exactly but I believe our premium is around £120 a month.

I do find this all very confusing in all honesty. One does not need to see their GP for this kind of thing and certainly their GP is not the only route into acute care. I don't understand why people are so fixated on seeing a GP. Paramedics or even your local MIU can and do send people into acute care setting. If my wife was that ill I would take her to the hospital myself and insist she sat in AMU until they had found out what was wrong. In the case you describe I'm not sure how private healthcare would have helped- you still need to know who to see and in some cases would need to be referred to them by your GP anyway.

Private healthcare is useful for some things and not others.

you work in the nhs don’t you?

how do you see the service changing?