private health insurance

[Silverbook]

For the first time, I'm considering private health insurance and would be interested in hearing the experiences of other people who have used it- either patients or doctors/medics. Do you think it's something worth having? Any specific companies to consider or avoid?

I’ve had it through work since graduation (very lucky), and it’s been amazing. Frontline GP service especially.

I would pay for it if I didn’t get it as a work benefit.

I have had it through work and also now pay for it privately - imo worth every penny especially now the NHS is in such a mess . I have had a number of claims from GP appointments (usually free) to my husband needing a Hernia opp. I think the company one was with Aviva and our private one is with Vitality . I find their GP appointments very good especially when it’s near on impossible to one through the NHS. Usually initial call followed by a video call and then a referral if needed

It's fine if you have no pre existing conditions

If you do, you're fucked

I am with axa. I have been for about 20 years now.

They are good because for certain things you don’t even need a referral (breast and skin clinics for example, I felt a lump, called them and was at a one stop breast clinic in front of a consultant less than 24 hours later).

I would like to change provider but I have been diagnosed with a couple of conditions over the last two decades through them, which is fine for axa, but another provider would now see them as pre existing, so I’m stuck really.

Their video GP is okay, but isn’t included, it’s £60 a go so I might as well pay that and see a private GP face to face.

I've always had it through work, new roles
Cover ore- existing conditions. Dts and DH also covered.

It's brilliant. I'd pay for it if I don't have it.

Have been with Axa and now Bupa, would recommend both

Only through work with Axa. Pre-existent conditions were included which was amazing. Meant I got seen a lot quicker.

@Cheezecake what sector do you work in like is it accounting or what pls I need inspiration as I’m trying to find a job just for the private health care insurance benefits and I know through work they cover pre existing and personal policies won’t and I have pre existing issues .

Whether you pay or not, it does not solve the A&E wait problems. I would definitely pay for a private A&E alternative.

I have it through husbands work has it limits. I couldn't pay for it as I don't cover pre existing conditions .

@JessieLongleg hi through your husband work policy though are you covered for pre existing conditions ? If u don’t mind what sector does he work in ? Or what does he work as ? I don’t see many jobs that offer private health care insurance as a perk so i might get my husband to change job for the private health care perks haha as I have pre existing conditions and a private policy was to much to pay for and some places didn’t insure me at all and with the nhs im stuck on a never ending waiting list .

@wwatermelonsugarmum he works for a top group of lawyers. It has its limits, like no fertility, chronic mental health, pregnancy, no weight loss help. You have to pay for everything such as I had a knee operation go a bill for the meds, equipment, supports, bandages. As my husband needed before ongoing bandage changes after one operation that is covered by nhs. You need a gp referral, his has gps with the cover you can contact but they are not a full replacement for gp. The full advantage of a work cover rather than getting it yourself is a low excess. To be honest when I looked at it privately the excess is the same as 15 sessions of physio. Yes I would be covered for new things but with an excess 3 times a standard 1st Dr visit. If it didn't need ongoing help it wouldn't be worth claiming. And our insurance companies have rules for treatment. So with my back injections I can't have them for pain relief only with the intention of having a denervation operation. There is a certain amount of time before I can have another injection in the same area. And I lost out on my maternity pay because I was admitted through a&e.