How much do you pay for health insurance?

[SunShinesBrightly]

Thinking about the ‘can’t get to see a GP’ thread and the news that more and more people are going private.
If you go private do you pay as you go as needed or pay a premium monthly?
Is it worth it?

Nobody? 😭

Probably not that helpful to you as I'm in Ireland. I pay about 1200 euros a year. Covers half gp cost.

@Thirder

Probably not that helpful to you as I'm in Ireland. I pay about 1200 euros a year. Covers half gp cost.

That is useful! 1200 euros is approx £1012 so around £83 a month. Only half GP cost... it’s expensive isn’t it?

Private health insurance in England doesn’t cover visits to a private GP. You have to be referred to a consultant by a GP but I find they are always happy to do it as it doesn’t cost them anything. But it isn’t cheap and it goes up every year. Living on the edge of London we have reduced our bill by not being covered for Central London hospitals. You can also reduce the bill with a clause that says they will only pay for an operation if the NHS can’t do it within 6 weeks. Plus you have to remember that private insurance won’t cover any chronic conditions eg arthritis. Once diagnosed you have to transfer to NHS. Like all insurance it’s a gamble. I hadn’t needed mine for 4 years but have recently had two operations and several tests leading up to them. Also, there is usually a £250 excess every year. You should talk to a broker and see what deals they can get you.

We are in our 50s and pay £250 ish a month, have used it twice, it’s family cover for 4 of us, have used it twice, both times when waiting lists would have been long, gallbladder surgery and nose surgery for my dd, both times treatment within a week.

We were quoted approx £380 a month (can't remember which level cover this was for though), with an excess of £250.
2 adults, 1 child
We were advised that anything which is a pre existing condition wouldn't be treated within insurance policy and would be extra.

Yes half, but that's in addition to half any other consultants, hospital care etc. Also covers half acupuncture, chiro...
Gp is 50 or 60 per visit so I get 25 back.

Also we can access a private gp as part of our cover

You can ‘see’ a GP through Babylon for £49 I think it is.

About £500 per month for the 4 of us.

In the uk premiums tend to be comparatively cheap as emergency care and higher cost more long term work can generally only be provided on the nhs.

That said depending where you live you may also have difficulty finding treatment that doesn’t require top up payments due to certain insurers pushing payments to providers below sustainable levels.

Last time I went private was an £80
Gp consultation which was worth every penny. Before that I paid about £600 for a root canal which was also excellent value.

A decent proportion of people (10-15% in the uk) have private cover through work, the other half pays about £300 bik on the policy so it probably works out around £1000 a year, however the insurer in question is a nightmare to deal with.

We pay £220 a month for 2 adults and two children. That covers unlimited outpatients with consultants, 6 private GP visits in person, unlimited GP access on video call, all tests, scans, hospital stays etc.

Excess is £500, but for what i’ve used this year for a medical issue, that’s nothing for all the treatment I’ve received and how fast I’m being treated.

You don’t always need a referral from a GP either - certain things like breast cancer clinics, prostate, skin you call the insurance and you are fast tracked right away.

@Siriisatwat

We pay £220 a month for 2 adults and two children. That covers unlimited outpatients with consultants, 6 private GP visits in person, unlimited GP access on video call, all tests, scans, hospital stays etc.

Excess is £500, but for what i’ve used this year for a medical issue, that’s nothing for all the treatment I’ve received and how fast I’m being treated.

You don’t always need a referral from a GP either - certain things like breast cancer clinics, prostate, skin you call the insurance and you are fast tracked right away.

That’s really good. Who’s that with? I’m paying more than twice that with Bupa through work.

We have something called Smart Health through dh work, I think it's through AXA or something. You get free access to online gp for telephone and video consultation, and second opinion as well. I can't think it can cost much if it's free through his work. It's for all the family as well. That might suit you if you are only wanting gp access. Most gp are only doing phone appointments still anyway!

Thank you so much everyone! Great replies.

It is expensive and yes, the gamble is will they pay out or not for the treatment, will I use it enough to make it worth while.
I guess it’s the same with any insurance. We currently pay a lot for home, contents, car & life insurance and have only made 2 small claims on just the home insurance in 20 years. Nothing on the rest.
I think the current situation is making us feel unsettled. I have definitely taken a lot for granted in the past.

DH and I both get Bupa cover as part of our standard benefits packages through work. My employer also provides access to the Babylon GP service free of charge. I think I paid around £250/year to add DC to my policy.

We pay £200 for me and the two children for Bupa cover. Only used it for one issue, but that was for multiple consultants visits and two operations for my son’s ENT issues.

DH has insurance and private GP cover through work.

As of today we are also registered with a private GP as our local surgery isn’t longer providing a safe or efficient practice ( they are lovely, but overwhelmed). I pay £90 per visit and the service is face to face, timely and thorough.

@LastStarfighter axa.

I’ve had my policy for donkeys years though, I have compared my cover with other recently and it was way more than I pay for all that i’m covered for.

£98 pm for 2 adults 2 children. Online gp only, some free physio & counselling, covers gp to consultant referrals, and cancer treatment if the NHS doesn’t start within 6wks. Doesn’t cover existing conditions and the excess is £120.

Oh and mine includes comprehensive cancer cover too. I’ve got a bloody good deal.

AXA are brilliant. You can vary your cover snd excess (ours is £100) to suit your budget. I am so glad we reinstated ours a couple of years ago as we had cancelled for a short time. We have really needed it this year. I had surgery at v short notice like weeks and my dh is due the same. Children get six SALT sessions each and we have full cancer cover and unlimited consultations. I have acupuncture and physio as well. Plus there are doctor video calls who can arrange necessary referrals too. It's very good. Their phone lines are a nightmare to get through but otherwise it has been v good. Family of four £250 a month.

There is no way I would change or move policies now as it isn't worth it with underwriting. Find one you like snd that's flexible like AXA and stick with it esp as we get older and literally everything starts to fall apart

I'm an IFA and we have it for our family cover both adults and children costs just over £80 a mont with zero excess and with full cover.

@cabinfever102 yes that’s my only complaint about axa. Great when you get though to them, but I was on hold for over an hour yesterday!

@Siriisatwat

We pay £220 a month for 2 adults and two children. That covers unlimited outpatients with consultants, 6 private GP visits in person, unlimited GP access on video call, all tests, scans, hospital stays etc.

Excess is £500, but for what i’ve used this year for a medical issue, that’s nothing for all the treatment I’ve received and how fast I’m being treated.

You don’t always need a referral from a GP either - certain things like breast cancer clinics, prostate, skin you call the insurance and you are fast tracked right away.

What company is this @Siriisatwat ???