Do you have private health insurance (and is it worth it?)

[2022HereWeCome]

Beginning to think seriously about private health insurance - but suspect it is unaffordable. I don't get any health benefits through mine or DH work so this is not an option.

Interested in people's experiences of private health insurance - who are you with, what are they like to deal with, do you use it, do you value it?

Not interested in comments about how marvellous the NHS is / how the government is forcing people to go private by underinvesting in the NHS / how I should be grateful for the NHS. My experience of the NHS recently has been mixed (eg dermatology appointment fantastic but took 18 months to be seen), dismissive GP who told me I was being stupid suggesting my issues were linked to recent infection (subsequently confirmed by optician that there was a link).

We are with AXA although it’s through work. It’s definitely worth it, we haven’t waited longer than a couple of weeks for an appointment and have been seen as quick as next day. They’re always really helpful on the phone. We have a private GP too that we pay for separately that we can always see same or next day. I got sick of spending an hour on the phone to our NHS GP to either be cut off, debate with a receptionist or told no appointments, not being listened to, waiting months for referrals, sometimes finding out they had never been made.

I have health insurance via Axa PPP as a work benefit. It covers DP and DS too. I don't pay for it but I have to pay tax on it. I don't know how much it would cost if I had to pay for it and I don't think it would be worth the cost (to us based on previous usage).

We probably have had our money's worth over the years - I've had a back operation (I saw the bills and they were eye watering) plus the insurance covered the physio afterwards. DS has had out patient treatment for three things all of which required investigation, tests and treatment.

I'm not sure any policy would cover pre-existing conditions though, you'd need to check this.

yes, it's totally worth it for us. We get BUPA through work and for example, when dd2 needed therapy instead of waiting forever for a camhs practitioner (awful experience with them in the past) we could look for a BUPA approved therapist who is an expert in the specific issue my dd struggles with. And she lives 5 minutes from us (as opposed to the 60 min round trip to camhs and sitting in a sterile room the very opposite of therapeutic, therapist often late and then in and out in 30 mins)

With axa. I pay 130 a month for me and two children, full outpatient cover (which is really important), comprehensive cancer care, video calls with GP, fast track appointments with no GP. Basically, I found a lump in my breast, called axa and was seen at a one stop bread clinic the next evenings, mammogram, scan, consultant and results within 2 hours.

I won’t go into it, but It saved my life last year.

We have to sacrifice a lot to pay for it, we are not well off by any means but I wouldn’t be without it.

I love the fact that as a patient, we can decide which consultant/therapist/psychologist we appoint, from their approved list and look for people with specific knowledge rather than a stressed NHS/CAMHS practitioner who has to work with every single issue which comes their way regardless of whether they have specific experience in that area

We introduced private medical insurance to our employees last year through vitality. Vitality has been a bit cheapskate and for a very small claim last year (a few physio sessions) our premiums have increased disproportionately, I wish I'd paid out of my own pocket - they probably all do this, but it's frustrating. So I'd say for big claims it's worth it, but for small claims, you are better paying out of your own pocket and saying nothing.

I have Axa via work, it’s a taxable benefit but in the last year both my DH and I have used it. In my case I’d been seen and had treatment before the NHS could even offer me an appointment.
All I have to do is ask the GP for an open referral, ring AXA and they give you options of locations/doctors etc.
It’s actually brilliant

Oh and I pay separately for a private GP too if needed.

Although, I am in an area where I can use Babylon health at hand as my NHS GP.
I booked a video GP appointment last night, just had it and they have booked me in for face to face consultation and blood tests this lunch time.
So worth looking into them for NHS primary care if you are in one of their areas.

If today’s NHS consultation throws anything up, I’ll get an open referral and get straight on the phone to axa.

We’ve got Vitality insurance.
DP has hap two operations done privately, both done within days.
I had a minor procedure, again, treated very quickly and results received in less than a week.
We have access to private gp included although we haven’t used it.
It’s definitely been worth it for us, not cheap as DP is 65 and I’m in my 50’s not knowing it’s there when needed gives peace of mind.

We are with WPA, less well known that some others but they have been very good IME.

Mine is paid by work but I pay £60pcm for DH (mid 30s) and 2 DC. The children are subsided through work. I think it would be around £150pcm for the family if we paid ourselves.

I think it’s worth it for the peace of mind of knowing that we can access medical care and advice quickly and conveniently.

You usually still have to get a GP referral for treatment still but GPs will refer much more readily than if you’re using NHS services. For example, a few years ago I hurt my knee, NHS GP suggested painkillers and rest, mentioned that I have private healthcare and was referred (at the insurers expense) to a physio. I started treatment within a few days. On the NHS you just don’t get this and so relatively minor ailments can take a long time to recover.

WPA now have their own remote GP service included, or you can see a private GP face to face and claim the cost back, This means that we can get an appointment within 1-2 days, this has been absolutely invaluable given the wait for appointments at my local GP is now 6-8 weeks.

I also find it really reassuring that should any of us be seriously unwell we could get treatment much quicker than on the NHS, and even access some treatments that aren’t available on NHS e.g. our plan covers certain cancer drugs/treatments that aren’t currently available on NHS.

DH is auto opted in for family cover with work. It's Cigna and they are crap. Penny pinch at every turn.
They only part cover dental fees and we've not used them for medical but I wouldn't trust them not to stiff us.
BUPA previously were excellent covering DH's operation.
Don't think we'll have private medical cover going forward - but if we do, it won't be Cigna.
Will go for Denplan for dental cover.

I'm in Ireland where it's more common to have private although not necessary but yes I have it (paid by my workplace) and yes it is worth it. I had an issue recently and saw a consultant within a month and it was sorted. If I had gone public I would be waiting at least another 6 months.

No. The private hospitals are full of NHS patients anyway !

I am paying for Benenden myself - it’s only £11.90 a month. It’s not insurance though but you can be seen privately if the nhs waiting list is more than 3 weeks I think. I’m being investigated for rheumatoid arthritis at the moment and have seen a consultant privately plus had an MRI scan and am having ulatrasound scans next week. I will then have another consultation review. Benenden have given me an £1,800 budget for the diagnosis which I have to manage myself but so far all going very well. As it’s not insurance but a mutual organisation, I don’t think there is any excess to pay either:
www.benenden.co.uk/

Unless you get it through work it's not really worth it. It's better to just go private when you need it. Unless of course you have underlying medical issues that warrant it.

I wish I had! At the moment I am forking out vast sums from my savings for treatment that I would have to wait months for on the NHS. I do not want to be going around in dreadful pain during the wait as sadly many others are.

If you can afford it, then go for it!

Yes we’re with axa through DH’s work and it’s been a godsend, we have 2 DC aged 18 and 19 and both remain covered on the policy till 25

DH also gets private dental care and we’re going on his policy too at the next yearly joining point as our nhs dentist has just gone private and it’s a lot cheaper than denplan

@QuizzicalEyebrows

Unless you get it through work it's not really worth it. It's better to just go private when you need it. Unless of course you have underlying medical issues that warrant it.

My bill last year came to £11,000.

I only paid £500 of it for the excess.

I could never have paid that and I would be in a far worse state now.

It wasn’t undying either. I just got ill.

Sorry I meant the bill that axa paid for all my treatment and surgery was £11,000.

NHS, I would still be waiting for those now.

We had PPP cover through DHs employer. DH used it for a few things and DD2 used it once.
When he retired I called them for a quote. Started at £11000 for the year for just the two of us. Got it down to £6000 by reducing number of hospitals available etc. so we didn’t take it and decided we’d just self fund if we needed anything. The private hospitals are good at giving fixed price quotes so you know what you’re letting yourself in for.
I have subsequently had a cancer diagnosis so goodness knows what they’d quote now - if at all.

We are on vitality and I wouldn't be without it, GP appts are genuinely impossible to get around here so the virtual doctor has been ideal. We've only used it once for a big thing but the NHS appt they offered me was over 18 months away, I was in front of a consultant within 5 days on vitality. It is expensive and I always think twice when the direct debit goes out but for my peace of mind it's worth it.

BUPA's great as a work benefit, but very expensive if you have to pay for it privately and will become prohibitive as you age unless you are seriously well-off.

You should try and estimate the premium increase as you get older for whatever company you consider. In theory you can change to a cheaper provider in later life, but probably not in reality as they wouldn't cover any pre-existing conditions you'd likely have by then.

It's £92 for me, DH and DD to have a pretty comprehensive package with Aviva. £100 excess/person/year. Would have been less if paid a bigger excess.

It's definitely got it's place. NHS waiting lists are untenable.

We sacrifice to pay for it though.

I have Bupa through work. I wouldn’t bother paying for it myself. The only benefit it is skipping the queue, if you’re seeing a consultant it’s usually the same one as at the NHS hospital. Mine also doesn’t cover chronic conditions which makes it of more limited usefulness, I’m not sure if you can get that cover if you pay yourself but I imagine it would be very pricy.

I will add its very daunting having to give card details before starting, and seeing the bills add up on your online account