To get private medical insurance for my family

[babyface2014]

That's it really I just want some advice on whether to do this as am in two minds. To cover me, hubby and 3 kids will cost £215 per month. I just want to know whether other mumsnetters think it's worth it ?

I don't know of any GPs or consultants who have private cover. They will use NHS (but are happy to take the money to see private patients). I've had conversations where they have actually been very scathing about the local private hospital - several have said they wouldn't want to be a patient there if something went wrong as there are not the facilities or experience to deal with it and it would require a blue light transfer to an NHS hospital at a critical time. Having said that I've had a couple of procedures privately (DHs work insurance and private ward of NHS hospital) I jumped the queue and had a private room which was lovely. But my treatment was exactly the same (even same doctor) that I would have had on the NHS. Personally I'm happy to have private cover if someone else is paying - if I had to pay no chance!!!

If I could comfortably afford medical insurance I'd definitely go for it.

I've always had it through work. Used it for DDs' bone operations, hearing tests and heart complaints, DH has used it for a joint problem, and I've used it for gynaecological stuff and to have my wisdom teeth our. So well used over 20 years. Main advantage is being able to get appts out of school and work hours.

I'm a GP and have recently taken out private insurance. The NHS is crumbling due to sustained underfunding over many years. It's very sad. Take it out OP but with a decent provider, not BUPA or PPP.

I have private insurance through Dh work, and I feel it's a world of difference. If you can afford it I would say it's worth it ten times over.

It depends what it covers. A friend opted to have her serious treatment by NHS, rather than use a private hospital that her work medical cover entitled her to use. After researching it, she found the specialist care in the NHS was of a higher quality. She has used her private medical cover for more routine tests and consultations. But don't assume that private always means better.

May be different if you are in London as there seems to be more private hospitals there. But outside London, I personally would not. Absolutely worth paying for tests privately though to "jump" the NHS queues.

Also I have always found that you see registrars if what you have is routine - not routine for you, but easy to treat. But if you have something less usual, you see the consultant.

I am inclined to just set it up. I have a irrational fear of getting cancer as have lost 2 friends to the disease.

If that is your main reason why not insure yourself and family for cancer, or 'critical illness' , some cancers are not covered but can be added with a premium.

Thanks for all your replies it's given lots of food for thought.
Writingonthewall the policy is with AXA so a fairly big company.

I guess I feel that now I'm nearing 40 health issues are more likely to crop up.

We have it through my work, I used it lots for chiro treatment in pregnacy , operation on foot, MIR scan after damaging hips in a horse fall, my husband has used it for numerous issues too.

Well worth it in my view, if you can afford it.

Yes I've had all my (thankfully minor) health issues in the last couple of years since my 40th.

We have it for DH and I and the two DCs. Ours is with Axa and they've been great. DS1 has had three operations to improve his hearing, all done privately, and I've had endometriosis treatment privately. Waiting for the NHS to treat DS1 when he was small, we were given an op date in November, it was cancelled on the say of the op because of funding and we were told he wouldn't be seen at least until the following April when the new financial year began.

If it's something you can afford, do it. For us the peace of mind is priceless.

i would read the small print to check what is covered but personally I am big fan. treatment is far above what you get in the NHS and the time it takes to see a specialist if you need one is so much quicker.

also - it means you are not using NHS resources. I can afford it, so I go privately. thats one fewer person in the queue for NHS treatments.

I have Bupa through work. I wasn't going to bother, but for £26 a month in tax it's worth it. I genuinely feat for the NHS (am a regular outpatient and was an inpatient twice last year and it's definitely gone downhill). Not sure I'd be prepared to pay the full amount myself though.

Fear, not feat!

We have private medical insurance and wouldn't be without it now. Have used it a few times for the children. If you can afford it I would say it's worth it.

It's good if you need be treated for something that affects your quality of life vs life threatening. The former is where I find the NHS falls short.

I had a really bad fall that resulted in ligament damage to both my knees. Private health cover saw me having an MRI and seeing a consultant within days then having surgery and 9 months of physio. My knees are good as new.

I saw a thread recently here where someone with the same injury was waiting for an NHS MRI 5 months on, had not been given physio, and been told basically not to move around by the fracture clinic. The muscle wastage from 5 months of inactivity is frightening and hard to rehabilitate.

Similarly I'm currently having loads of diagnostic tests to find out why I have a face rash that neither matches lupus or Rosacea. I work with someone who waited 9 months for allergy patch testing; I booked in for a convenient date as soon as I saw my consultant.

The only downside to private health is that they won't cover chronic conditions; if it turns out I have an allergic condition then I need to go back to the NHS.

If you choose to have private health care then do it for the convenience and speed of access.

Read the small print carefully to see what is covered.

Private health care doesn't necessarily buy you BETTER care, just speedier access in nicer surroundings. Don't have it under the impression you'll be receiving superior clinical care. I've worked in private hospitals, all very nice with private ensuite rooms and tea on doilied trays but all the doctors clear off at six and if there's an emergency the nursing staff call 999. This probably isn't the case in large private facilities like the Portland but IME most private facilities have no overnight cover apart from a very junior doctor on a sleeping on call, no ITU, and limited resources for dealing with a serious incident.

All the medics I know say that the NHS is miles better for serious stuff like cancer.

I was put on the 2 week pathway. The only benefit private insurance would have given me was getting an initial scan 2 days sooner and a private room for 3 nights after surgery. Not worth a lifetime of paying for insurance.

I also know someone who went into the local private hospital for a knee replacement and ended up being rushed to the NHS hospital when they developed heart problems. No ICU at the private place.

You might get something like a tonsillectomy sooner, but I'd put the money into a savings account instead. And I'd still rather have the op in an NHS hospital.

The way the NHS is going I think it can only be a good idea to buy PMI if you can afford it. I'd love to, but as I have a pre existing condition I'm excluded, which is the rub with health insurance generally, those who really need it can't access it.

Mine was great for getting a chronic condition diagnosed- had all the test and MRI scan really quickly and at times that suited me- but then the insurance wouldn't cover the ongoing care as it's a chronic condition not an acute issue so now back on the NHS and its crap! So be clear as to what it will and won't cover.

We have it as a family through dh's work but previously paid for it ourselves and I can't emphasise how worth it private is. Of course for cancer treatments I would go to the NHS but for initial diagnosis private delivers much more quickly. I had a tumour which wasn't picked up by the dr for over a year of seeing her and after demanding a referral I was in private surgery within 2 weeks.

My DH has had a heart operation which they would have refused to do on the NHS and it has drastically changed his life - he could barely walk without being out of breath and having constantly changing heart rate and was on beta blockers for 3-4 years, now he's on no medication and it's as if nothing ever happened!

So yes, I think private medical insurance if you can is up there with general household bills as an essential.

FYI some schemes do cover pregnancy issues - we had Bupa when dc1 was breech so would have been sent down to the Portland to have her. In fact we went to have the consultation and the dr said she isn't breech but I'll do the op anyway and claim she was but that's another story....

An alternative to PMI is to join a health cash plan, I am in one and pay £27/month plus covers pre exisitng conditions. I get to see my lovely but very expensive private consultant for an ongoing condition and only pay 25% of his consultation fee which is £150 a time. Plus it covers dental treatment and glasses. I can have up to four consultations a year, so if I needed to see a consultant privately for diagnosis or discussion of options, I know it is always there. I'd have to be referred back in to the NHS for treatment though.

We all have healthcare it is through our employment though....all I pay for is dd at 35.00 a month.

It is amazing and have used it many times over the years.

It has no exclusions and is with the old Pru health now Vitality.

We even get half price gym membership and free Starbucks!!

Dread to think what it would cost though if we had to pay for it.

If we ever lost it as a perk I would look into keeping it for sure.