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).

I'm aware that health insurance won't cover pre-existing conditions and I so wish i'd gone ahead with this in my mid 30s. I suspect that it won't be feasible now I'm 10 years older but I think I will start ringing around to get quotes.

It's a bugger, it really is - I've paid private in the past, fertility investigations, IVF, physio, dentist now for all of us (as dentist no longer provides any NHS services even for children) but worry if there was something big that could really impact on quality of life and we just couldn't afford it.

Mine covers pre-existing conditions but not chronic conditions, it makes the distinction.

I'm aware that health insurance won't cover pre-existing conditions

It depends on the pre-existing condition, sometimes they will cover them for an (often substantial) increased premium.

I'm aware that health insurance won't cover pre-existing conditions and I so wish i'd gone ahead with this in my mid 30s.

Ours covers pre existing conditions.

Look at a moratorium- will cover pre-existing issues as long as no symptoms/advice/meds/treatment in last 5 years.
Otherwise you can probably pay extra for pre-existing

Another vote for Benenden. It cost us £571 for a family of 4 for a year. Benefits are limited for the first 6 months (mental health helpline, online GP and a few member discounts I think) but after that you get full access.

The cover wraps itself around the NHS provision so you generally can't get 'big' ailments like cancer or brain tumours treated but you can get diagnostics, routine surgery like hip or knee replacements and services like physio, counselling etc.

We took out membership in summer last year. Since then we've had physio funded for dd as well as MRI scans etc at a local private hospital plus she's having a course of CBT. We've got more than our up front fees back already.

Yes - through work. It was invaluable when I needed major surgery - had my operation within two weeks whereas the NHS waiting list was 18 months.

The phone people I dealt with (Bupa) were very helpful and the process was straightforward - I paid the excess and then everything else was settled directly with the hospital.

Having my own room and decent food in the private hospital was great, although the equipment and so on, though adequate, seemed more dated than you'd find in an NHS hospital.

Overall if you can afford it, I would recommend it.

I accompanied a relative to a private consultation once and the difference between that and a previous NHS appointment, for the same issue, was like night and day.
Since then I've paid for two private appointments, both costing £200, for myself. One was abdominal, the other one ophthalmic, and worth every single penny. If they'd found anything abnormal then I would have had to join the NHS waiting list but at least I'd have been spared the initial hassle of trying to get GP appointment, then a referral etc.

I'm with AXA but it's through my job so I don't pay for it (just the tax on it.) I've been having some mental health issues and called them on Monday. They have already assessed me and signed off on 16 counselling sessions which I'm starting next week. No idea how long I'd have waited for that on the nhs but I'd guess years!

I'm in Ireland and it's totally worth it here. As a Fairly healthy family we all have used it at a lot over last five years . Kids got grommets, me wisdom teeth and dh hip operation. All would have been months if not years on public system.

Thanks everyone - it's really bamboozling because there are so many different add ons but this has given me a prompt ....

I have recently appointed my health protected as my health insurance broker, I was recommended by a family member and they have done a great job bringing down my premiums. My new policy includes dental and optical cover and it is substantially less that was I was paying previously for compatible cover. They have saved me a fortune!