Anyone regretting giving up private medical insurance?

[ajandjjmum]

We're paying around £270 a month with Aviva for four of us (inc. 2 adult DC), but I've just discovered that we each have £1,000 excess per annum.

I changed from BUPA when they increased their charge £6,000 pa!

So I'm thinking of transferring the amount we pay monthly into a savings account, and use that when any of us need medical treatment quickly.

Has this worked for anyone?

It's hard to say. My mum had a minor operation and it was £5000.

Personally I've used my bupa a lot. But I've always had it through work, and never paid privately for it when I've worked for a company that didn't offer the benefit. I've had a couple of surgeries on the NHS and fortunately found the care and service very good.
Self funding might be an option for a small surgery but long term treatment or god forbid, a cancer or major surgery. Self funding just wouldn't be realistic for most people

Saving up and self paying will work for minor stuff, but not for treatment of a cancer. depends what you want it for.

The kids were covered for several years until finances meant I had to cancel it.

Within 18 months, both were diagnosed with separate lifelong conditions and needed dental treatment (not decay related) that the NHS doesn't provide They would have been able to access the quickest, best treatment - but are now uninsurable with crappy teeth.

I wish I could have afforded to keep it going but the cunting ex's games with maintenance made it impossible, especially when he laughed as I told him I was using his pittance to pay for it

This is going to sound odd but if you self fund you may pay more for the actual treatment.

I worked in a private hospital, if you had a procedure, say an angiogram, everything used in the procedure was counted and added to your bill, if it was out of hours then you would also pay the on call charge for the staff as well as doctor's fees and the hospital stay.

If you are self funding you receive an itemised bill, if you are insured the bill goes to the insurer. The big insurers' then decide what they pay. If the bill is £2200 the insurer may say they only pay £1800 per angio so that is all they pay. Because the hospital needs the big insurance companies to survive then the cost is 'absorbed'.

Only you can make the choice and your adult children w#should be considering their own insurance. Maybe build up some savings before you cancel so you have a cushion if something comes along. Also how good is your health? What about your family's medical history?

As you age your premiums will go up because you are more likely to use the insurance so what you sac#ve should increase too.