To ask if you have private health insurance?

Yes through dh work

I could have written your post. My experience of an NHS psychiatric hospital was nothing short of horrific. Those places need seriously investigating.

And pigs might fly...

Ah, the age-old Mumsnet 'your reading comprehension is terrible' retort. It never fails to appear when someone simple doesn't like what someone else is saying – and it's always entirely meaningless.

It's OK – you can pay for a luxury. It doesn't mean it's not what it is. I didn't say you should have waited a year in pain – but those who could afford what you did (again, the majority of the nation) would have had no option but to wait a year in pain. Again – I'm not saying you should have, I likely would have done the same, but it being expensive enough to not be obtainable for the majority means it is, in fact, a luxury. If you don't think it is expensive, then that's completely relative to what money you have.

There are many definitions of the word luxury – 'a state of comfort, obtained at great expense', 'a desirable item which is expensive and difficult to obtain' – all of which fit the bill to describe the affordability of private healthcare. The root of the word also means in excess to what is already provided – and it most definitely is an excess to what is already provided. You might not like what is provided, you might find yourself if a lesser state to what is provided – but you have the luxury of not having to accept it.

I suggest you make your peace with the definition and stop seeing the definition itself as an attack.

This! With bells on. 👏👏

Not only is your reading comprehension terrible, you don't seem to know what words actually mean. No need to call other people long-winded when you just can't read properly.

First of all, there's no bad things that would have happened. They did happen. Personal experience.

Secondly, in said scenario I got no NHS treatment in a timely manner. I needed it, therefore I paid. The treatment was essential.

The definition of 'luxury' is an inessential good. So what you're really saying is, the treatment I received was completely unnecessary. I should have just waited a year in pain.

You know, some people can't afford food. That doesn't mean food is a luxury. I wouldn't go so far as to call private health insurance that - but it's not a luxury in the way holidays or private jets are. The clue is in the name...insurance, it's only going to be useful if something bad actually happens.

Maybe don't buy house insurance, car insurance (although illegal) , travel insurance or any other type if you don't believe in it.

No, this is all just a very long-winded version of saying 'isn't it nice to have money'. Endless streams about the bad things that would have happened to you if you didn't pay privately, does not remove the fact that it's a luxury – both things can be true at the same time. If you're not aware that the majority of the UK cannot afford it, then that's a you problem.

You don't need to stop paying for it, but you should recognise what it is.

I would love to rely on the NHS. In our case the insurance has saved us huge waiting times but I’m sure the treatment is largely the same. It’s the waiting times and access for us. Family members in a different area seem to have much better access to GPs and healthcare. We have to wait 6-12 weeks for a GP appointment that isn’t urgent (and even some urgent stuff is done by text if they think it just needs antibiotics) and waiting lists are years. I’ve been on one for something not covered by insurance for over two years now. And the lack of access definitely affects diagnosis. Doctor friends of mine are really concerned about the many lost opportunities that moving to GP phone (or text) interactions is having for example.

What fallacies and projection? The OP gave specific examples and I responded to them.

I don’t care a jot if people pay for private healthcare, my one and only point is that it is a luxury to be able to.

We paid privately for my daughter to see an ENT faster than the NHS. It was a luxury to be able to do that.

Rather than asking me why I take issue with people paying privately (I don’t, which I have repeatedly said), you could ask yourself why you take issue with it being a luxury to be able to.

Whatever the wait times or hardships or inadequacies of being on the NHS, that still doesn’t mean that paying for the alternative isn’t a luxury.

Through DP work but I probably wouldn't have it otherwise. We pay to add on me and DC and it has paid for itself in massage/physio and a dental treatment so it has been worth it

Sudden death runs in DH’s family. My Private healthcare policy discovered the slight enlargement of the heart in DSD that precipates this and a hole in the heart for DS that night have led to a stroke. DSD is now on meds and being monitored monthly on the NHS. DS is monitored annually and will get surgery after he turns 7.

Note the NHS doesn’t check for this unless you’ve had a confirmed sudden death in the immediate family. Deaths of immediate family in places where autopsies aren’t done don’t count - which is probably why so many South Asians die of preventable heart issues.

Why all the projection? And fallacies?
PP wasn't saying those who can't afford it 'don't' prioritise their children's health.
They're simply giving their views on private healthcare.

Unfortunately in 2024 it's not a luxury I'm afraid, unless you count not suffering in pain a luxury instead of a basic human right.

Instead of getting angry at people who do what's best for them maybe be angry at those in power who have allowed this to happen .

BTW, many a time it's not the 'treatment' that's the issue but getting a diagnosis. The two times I'd had to use the NHS I got my consultant appointment a YEAR after first being seen by my GP! Granted I wouldn't have died but my condition caused a lot of discomfort and had a massive impact on my daily life and work. They expected me to just live with it for a year.

Went private, got to see a consultant within days and if I'd needed long-term treatment he'd have referred me back to his NHS list. So I'd have skipped the queue.

You can't get any treatment without a diagnosis yet the diagnosis itself takes a long time.

BTW if I hadn't gotten treatment the loss of income from sick days etc would have mounted up not to mention the damage to my career and reputation. Insurance is a small price to pay.

It shouldn't be like this. But it is. If you were lucky enough to receive stellar treatment well then be grateful because it's a postcode lottery and not all of us are as fortunate.

Absolutely yes, for me & my children. Had my parents & young nephew been insured they'd likely still be alive today, so I regard it as an essential bill. I have zero trust in NHS services in my area.

No. None of us have needed it, though we have paid privately for counselling. I'd struggle to do it both mentally and financially.

Yes, we have 2 policies through 2 different providers (it’s allowed where we are). Use them all the time.

You don't think you'll need it... until you do.
Seriously ill health often comes totally out if the blue and, in my case, did.
I'd strongly advise you look into it.

100%. Wouldn't be without it now. Literally saved my life after the NHS totally failed me. The thought of ever not having it is truly terrifying.

Yes, we're all covered through my partners work.

My company insurance scheme actually covers up to 90 days of MH inpatient treatment per year.

Not going to happen it you're detained under mental health legislation. Totally impractical anyway. Perusing the insurers it appears 28 days is the max inpatient stay covered. 60/70 + day admissions aren't unusual for episodes of severe psychiatric illness.

If they own a property with enough equity to remortgage and savings to that amount, then yes it’s a luxury. Please go and educate yourself on the financial state of the vast majority of the nation.

Do you think people who can’t afford it do not prioritise their children’s health? If so, this is more woefully ignorant than I first thought.

Pay for it by all means, who cares, but accept it’s a luxury to do so.