To spend £650 each month on health insurance?

[startingallover]

£650 pays out monthly to cover me, dh and our four children. We can't really afford it but we're making it a priority over other things. Dh wants us to cancel and says it's a waste of money. He says we could put some money in a pot and use it if we needed to pay for treatment. I know this wouldn't happen though as we have actually reduced our bill lately and have to pay £250 excess per year. Since then we are being far more careful. Cancer runs in my family and I do worry about getting ill. The peace of mind of being able to go in and get checked the same week is worth the sacrifices we make. But dh really wants me to cancel it. It's a big payment each week but I can't bring myself to ring up and cancel it. AIBU?

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

Yep, you're mad. Cancel it, and save some money for private consultations or treatments if you need them. £7800 a year is a hell of a lot of money.

Have you considered testing for the BRCA genes, to see if you're at a higher risk.

[whatsoever]

We have private medical insurance through work but I would never pay for it personally in the UK. My SIL is an oncologist. You would never in a million years get better cancer treatment privately in the UK than at one of the NHS specialist hospitals.

I've used mine to get a rheumatology appointment quickly & to get physio quickly but I wouldn't fork out my own money for either of those things.

A colleague broke his wrist and the consultant he saw said he had to have the op through the NHS as the private hospital didn't have the right equipment for his tricky break. £650 p/m is way too much.

[startingallover]

Thanks for the view points. To share some perspective my sister died when I was little and I worry a lot about health issues. It's totally a peace of mind thing when I discover a lump etc. I did consider taking off the children but it's me that seems to be expensive. My husband doesn't care less about having it but says it would be selfish if I just had it. I'm about £280 a month alone. I do agree with him. My children are more important than me.

[grumpysquash2]

OP, I have similar, for £540 per YEAR and the children (3 of them) are included for free. Well, when I say similar, it might not cover the same things, but when I had a frozen shoulder I got to see two different specialists for some procedures (scans, injections etc.), then had a surgery and a lot of physio. £250 excess, the rest covered.

You are paying >£7,500 per year. I think your DH has a point when he suggests putting it in a pot.

Also, if you have a history of cancer, does your policy definitely cover that?

[AliceInUnderpants]

But what is wrong with the NHS?

[wickedwaterwitch]

Private medical insurance is something, IMO, that seems expensive until you use it. Then it seems like a bargain.

My recent experience was NHS discharge with 'non urgent' appointment in a few weeks. "It'll probably clear up on its own"

We got that call to say "this is why we discharged. It'll probably clear up on its own" as we were on our way to see a private surgeon.

He realised it was an emergency and she was readmitted same day. NHS, yes, and they said, 2 weeks later "we can't discharge her as here are no NHS xxx available " we hired a private one and she was discharged.

[wickedwaterwitch]

Op, if it means you get tests etc faster and routine treatment like physio quicker then keep it.

[wickedwaterwitch]

The NHS is fab

But if you have private health care and need some minor surgery it will happen quicker (prob same surgeon) and possibly elsewhere, eg private clinic.

[wickedwaterwitch]

I'm sorry about your sister op.

[startingallover]

It saves my sanity. I have terrible memories of hospitals and like to go to a small hospital with a nice room etc etc. I also think it's a lot to do with wanting to do whatever I can to convince myself there is nothing more I can do for my children. I agree the NHS can be great but have also had terrible experiences. But £650 is hurting each month!!

[GraysAnalogy]

I don't see the point really. We take care of private patients and they end up in a bed next to someone receiving care on the NHS. Having waited the same time for a referal and treatment.

[startingallover]

Thank you for not all beating me up on this. I expected a real ear bashing. Probably still to come.

[DancingDinosaur]

Whose your insurance with grumpysquash? That seems really cheap. I was quoted £85 per month for me and 2 dc. Op your insurance is really expensive. Crikey.

[GraysAnalogy]

Startin depending on what's your issue is, you may end up being treated in an NHS hospital anyway. I've worked on ortho, gastro and cardiac and we always have private patients getting treatment

[multivac]

"Thank you for not all beating me up on this. I expected a real ear bashing. Probably still to come"

That's interesting. Why did you expect an 'ear bashing'? Why do you think it's 'probably still to come'?

[GraysAnalogy]

You don't deserve an ear bashing you're doing nothing wrong but trying to take care of your and your families health

[GraysAnalogy]

Sorry that should say just not but

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

I'm sorry about your sister.

IMO the NHS is brilliant for the 'big' stuff - cancer, emerfencies, anything acute to do with kids. Where it's really not so great is the non-urgent stuff, fair enough, it can't be all things to all people. So if you twist an ankle or need non-urgent tests, there's going to be a mahoosive waiting list.

The thing is, if you need non-urgent stuff, you can just pay for it. You don't need insurance and given how much you're paying for the insurance... I

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

The NHS is struggling. It recently took them 5 months to decide whether I had breast cancer. Hardly the 12 weeks D.C. champions for ALL cancer.
If you have specific issues that would be difficult to insure as pre-existing conditions then it makes sense for you to continue the insurance. DH and the dc may get a better deal elsewhere

[Deux]

Can you reduce your cover? And maybe divert some of the money into seeing a counsellor or therapist to deal with your issues. Imo, that would be a much better use of your resources.

As it is you are spending 7.8k on your anxiety. You could get a lot of top rate therapy for that.

[Elephant24]

startingover I have had terrible issues around health anxiety caused by a few experiences that were no ones fault eg., my mum dying when I was young, and later on some bad experiences with the NHS. So first of all, you can get counselling for the health anxiety and I would thoroughly recommend it. I had EMDR treatment which saved my sanity although I still worry a lot.

Secondly, you can get medical insurance much cheaper. Put the £650 a month in a savings account for the time being and look for something better - you are being ripped off. Its not ok to pay that much even if you can afford it; its just something which is happening because of your fears. I too have insurance - with Benenden - and they are very reasonable, although you don't get cancer cover. Someone upthread said that you don't need to have the children on this insurance - in fact, the best paediatric experts etc are within the NHS so by going private you may not be helping.

[hefzi]

£280 for you per month seems absolutely massive: especially with a £250 excess. Is it that your health anxiety has led to you seeking referrals for reassurance, or is it that you've had ongoing conditions etc that means it's risen to this rate?

Are either you or your DH in a profession where there is a scheme attached? (So not one where your company pays for it, but where you can take advantage of the group rate for lower premiums etc, and yours rise every year, but it's not dependent on how much you've previously used your insurance, unlike individual schemes)

Could you consider the option whereby if you choose to be treated on the NHS for something, you get a lower premium? Or a cashback option? Or choose cancer coverage only if that's your worry?

Alternatively, can you, instead, stick £300 every month into a non-negotiable, don't touch, hands off etc saving account, to use for consultants' fees in future, and use the rest of the money towards your other expenses?

Fifteen years ago, I was volunteering abroad for an extended period, and so wasn't entitled to use the NHS. I had an accident whilst visiting my parents, and paid to see a consultant in the UK, as well as have a scan. Recently, I have had a similar problem, and the costs were actually slightly lower - £20 cheaper for the consultant, and £75 lower for the MRI: that indicates to me they've remained pretty static (unlike, say, school fees). If you had a stash of money you could access immediately, you could still have the benefits of seeing the consultant tomorrow, instead of in a fortnight, still go ahead with tests and scans etc, but then slot back in for the rest of your treatment? I think - though I'm not sure- that you can often book a private room in many hospitals now, and that's obviously important to you: but your insurance bill is, as you know, pretty massive, and there might be some tweaks you can make whilst still getting the reassurance of instant access.

[wickedwaterwitch]

YY to Lonny

But for eg BUPA are paying for my family member's physio now.

It's £90 a time so far for 10 sessions. However she's also seen a neuro specialist X 2, a spinal surgeon X 1 which would also have cost £££ and they were appointments on the day we called, eg same day. That's worth a lot IMO

I had private treatment for aback issue and went once a week for six months

[Shutthatdoor]

I had worse treatment privately than I have on NHS.

[wickedwaterwitch]

It's a lot though

My cover is with a job so free to me