Do you have private health insurance?

[popcorn234]

We all known the NHS is on its knees. I’ve been waiting for surgery since June 2022 with no sign of it happening anytime soon. I can’t go on with my problem anymore and I am most likely going to now take out a loan so I can go privately.

I am considering taking out health insurance so in the future I can get any required treatment (for different problems) a lot quicker.

Do you have it? If so, who are you with and how much do you pay?

I am early 30s and keep hearing Beneden Health being advertised as very cheap. Are they any good?

TIA!

Have you explored whether there is any option to get it through work?

Obviously it won’t be something offered by any public sector employers but lots of private companies will offer it as a perk, especially for senior staff.

The main advantage is that corporate policies are ‘previous medical history disregarded’ so they cover any pre-existing conditions you have before the policy starts.
If you take out an individual policy, they normally won’t cover any issues you’ve had before, and they are usually very vague. So I’ve you’ve had a leg injury, it will exclude all leg issues for at least 3 years

I do. I don't know how much it costs. My in laws pay for the whole family.

It's really worth it if you can get it. Peace of mind is priceless and I've had to have surgery twice. Just get seen so fast and it's such a more pleasant experience

@tenbob I did not know that corporate policies cover pre-existing conditions! What a perk. Unfortunately my company don’t offer it, even though it’s in the private sector. And they won’t be introducing it anytime soon as we have finance issues.

Yes I wouldn’t expect a new policy to cover my existing condition, and I need surgery too. But at least if I had it I can deal with any future issues should they arise quickly.

We get it through DH’s work.

Never had to use it but it’s nice to know it’s there

I was going to suggest the same as a previous poster to see if you can move to a company which offers it. Current job it's a free perk for me and DC (taxable though) and covers pre-existing conditions. My old job, any one above entry level staff could add it for £25per month!

Is there any option at looking at other jobs? I think would move to get free health cover before I took out a loan to self-fund…

I have VIP cover with Vitality through work. I think the premium is about £1600 per year (42 years old, no pre existing conditions).

I’ve made claims for new glasses and also counselling, both of which were dealt with and sorted incredibly quickly.

Another perk with Vitality are the rewards - as long as you meet activity targets each week/month you get rewarded via their partners. So I get one free drink at Cafe Nero every week, a Rakuten code once a fortnight, a cinema ticket once a fortnight, my Amazon Prime subscription paid for monthly and an Apple Watch paid for in monthly instalments. All in the “freebies” are probably worth about £40 per month.

Benenden is quite good but check their website first to see if they cover the procedure you need. Also you can't claim for the first 6 months of membership.

I do through work, and I pay for the DCs. I think it’s fairly vital right now.

Not all corporate policies disregard history, so double check that if you do go down the chafing job route.

I have aviva through work, I am around your age and they pay £130 per month for it. I’ve used it a few times and cannot fault them. One of the doctors I saw said that aviva are one of the better ones.
Best of luck with getting your op sorted.

DH has AXA cover through work. He pays £140/mth to cover himself and two children.

I’m with AXA through work and I pay to have my DC added to my policy. Definitely worth it.

I can recommend Aviva. It’s not always a magic fix, though, as not all conditions or surgeries are carried out in the private sector. It is great for scans and an initial diagnosis. Like all insurance it may be something you never use or you get more than you put in, there’s no telling.

Thank you for the comments.

Just out of interest - would private health insurance cover things like getting the contraceptive coil fitted privately? (which is something that I want to do)

I agree about checking corporate ones carefully, ours is through Aviva but there is a 2 year pre-existing conditions exclusion.

I am with Benenden Health and have been for years. A low cost back up to the NHS.

To be treated by them, you need a letter from your GP to say how long the NHS waiting list is for your condition. If long enough, the Benenden may have you treated in one of their private hospitals.

Some conditions, such as cancer are not covered by them though.

My father and I have been very well looked after by them. They also offer a 24hr GP phone call/Skype service, which I have used and found very helpful.

They used to be called the Post Office and Civil Service Sanatorium Society, only open to PO staff, Civil Service and their families, but I believe anyone can now be a member.

@popcorn234 probably not.

I get AXA PPP through work. I am 63 and may retire shortly and they have quoted £2800 pa to transfer the cover to an individual/personal pay one which comes with £1250 allowance for outpatient appointments/tests, and 5 GP video appointments per year. Plus ops of course.

I'll keep it.

Paradoxically I had a health scare this summer and needed an ultrasound and other tests. The NHS (NHS consultant for a specific speciality/chronic condition) offered to refer for everything on an urgent two week basis. I was fine BTW.

I used the health insurance because I have a full on job and needed to negotiate the appointment dates/times. I also value not being spoken to as though I have fewer brain cells than an amoeba, which is my experience with the NHS. I also value appointments running to time, and staff being generally polite.

Ive heard good things about Benenden. I think these days it’s worth taking a job at a company that offers private medical if you can.

I meant to say. Both my father and I have had consultations and operations through Benenden.

I have used their 24hr GP phone service several times also.

I’ve just taken it out through vitality. I’m a sole trader, so I’ve got a corporate cover - although as I’m the only employee, I can’t claim it against my self assessment. But I can pay through my business account. My price was £500pa

a few months ago I hurt my back and I ended up spending close to £350 on private physio alone, so I figure it’s worth it in case something else happens. I’ll be covered for my back in 2 years time

my husband has just waited 15 months for a routine scan at our local hospital, so that also played into my thinking.

My brother, who has never had private health cover, has been treated privately through his employer.

He is management, so I guess the sooner he was treated and back at work, the better for them too!

I have heard of this happening with other people too! Not a bad perk to have.

I'm with Aviva through work. Basic cover is provided free (but as a taxable benefit) but I pay extra to increase my coverage. I had £10k of unexpected surgery last year at one of London's best private hospitals with a top surgeon. I'd still be waiting if I'd used the NHS. So it's definitely worth it.

As a previous poster says, I also like the fact that privately you're not talked to like you're a complete idiot and that appointments are longer and more thorough, as well as test results quicker. I had some follow-up blood tests done on the NHS this year and it took over 2 months. Privately the same tests would have been done and results back within 24 hours. It's like night and day.

I don't get Beneden.

I have had cover through work for years for my family, and it has been well used. When I had a MMC NHS wait for an ERPC was three weeks, private was a day. I've had knee surgery twice and all the physio, my daughter has had MRI and physio, dd2 is going to an optometrist tomorrow for help with visual stress.

Thanks all. I think I am going to get it. I checked out quotes and it’s about £65 per month with BUPA.

Does anyone have any info re private coil fittings being available with private insurance as per my previous post? Would I still have to go through my GP?

You’d have to check individual policies regarding fitting of a coil. I know my policy at the time (was AXA PPP at that point, we switched to Vitality about 5 years ago) did not cover my fertility treatment or anything relating to investigations, etc, but I did get a one off payment of £150 after giving birth.