Private medical insurance - is it worth it?

[MalmMumma]

I've been thinking about this for a while. Neither DP or I get it through our employers and have managed ok so far. But we now have a four year old DS and are hitting 40. A few friends have it and said they wouldn't be without it, just in case.... a quick look at comparison websites suggests that premiums could be £1200 per year for the three of us. We don't have pre existing conditions but figure that we're probably better getting it when we are younger/healthier. Is it worth the money? Have you used it much or do you have it for peace of mind, just in case? Interested to hear your views so thanks in advance!

Thanks for all the replies. I'm thinking about it in case of worst case scenario I.e. one of us is diagnosed with cancer for example and also because I know many children's services are very underfunded. We are lucky enough to be able to afford it so I think we just need to bite the bullet. If our employers ever change their minds and offer it, I guess we can cancel the policy.

It's not worth it for kids. It can give you okay value for adults.

DH and I have private medical cover through my work. Mil has it but pays for it herself. She's had to have several ops in the last few years and the private insurance has meant she's had them quickly and with good consultations and aftercare.

DM has had to wait for the NHS for similar operations and the care has not been as good, plus she's had to wait well over a year for one op. Likewise my dad needed a hip replacement and waited 18 months on the NHS, whereas Mil got hers done in about two months.

Yes x100 especially for cancer. You always see a consultant, waiting times for treatment are faster, continuity of care, farcwoder choice of drugs than on the NHS. Excellent for anything which isn't an NHS priority such as hip replacements, back operations etc. Next to no waiting lists and a lifesaver for kids especially for things like allergies, tonsils, adenoids and similar. Whole other world IMO to NHS. We try to avoid using the NHS if at all possible

We have it and it's been incredible. DS1 was born with a substantial hearing loss and the NHS were, to be blunt, a load of shite. Our private medical cover has paid out for five separate operations so far for him which would have cost us thousands had we needed to pay, and which we'd have had to fight for years to get through the NHS. He's 12 now and I don't regret a single penny of the monthly premiums we've paid over the years. His hearing is incredible, his speech amazes me and his progress blows me away given the prognosis when he was tiny.

In principle I don't like the thought of a service which only certain people in society can pay for; it seems wrong that more money can buy you faster, easier healthcare. But in practise when it comes down to the DC's welfare I'd pay whatever it took and put my principles to one side.

Maybe generalising, but the NHS does tend to prioritise cancer care and is very responsive with early diagnostic scans if a risk is there e.g. A breast lump, bleeding, or other irregularity.

I couldn't even get a gp appointment when I had a great lump- so unable to get into the NHS system to begin with.

Private medical had me at a consultant, mammogram, biopsy within 36 hours.

It is worth it for kids too! My DS had 3 lots of grommets and adenoids removed and we could get it done in school hols or not close to beach holiday as he could n't swim for a few weeks after.

I used it for corrective surgery after bodged episiotomy. I aldo had physio for frozen shoulder. DH has had injections for knee and physio. All with no or minimal waiting and at our convenience around work/other commitments.

I would look at what any excess is on the policy and whether it was per person, per year or per claim.

As with anything if you can afford it go for it.

We have found it very useful.

My ds had to have a couple of minor ops and I could schedule them in half term so he missed no school. Having never been in hospital before - he thought it was all marvellous and luxurious in his posh, private room. Also, his follow up ops were at convenient times outside of the school day.

My husband has also made really good use of it and certainly being seen really quickly and having diagnostics like MRIs without having to wait has been great.

And it's a minor detail, but the private room and bathroom with decent food does make a hospital stay a lot nicer.

We have it through DH's work. Most policies will come with exclusions - mental health and pregnancy being the main ones often found - and as private hospitals rarely have A&E it will only cover stuff which isn't an emergency.

Having said that I had a hysterectomy privately last year and it was a very good experience. I got to choose my consultant, choose what times I wanted to see her, appointments were 30 minutes long so plenty of time to chat, I got to choose when I had my operation at a time which was most convenient for me and choose the hospital. The surgeon and anaesthetist were both NHS staff as well and the nursing staff were first rate (even the ones I vomited over). I had a private room with en-suite, could eat when I wanted, menu was amazing, had the choice of being discharged at tea time or just staying another night, and had two follow up appointments and physio, again all at times to suit me.

I'm sure the care I got would have been just as good on the NHS but the flexibility is so much better as is the comfort in hospital.

Had it through work till I retired. Worth every penny. When I needed a knee op I would have had to wait 3 years on NHS, done immediately through private medical insurance.

Oh yes, and had my cataracts done when I needed it rather than current NHS policy of waiting till you're almost blind.

I used to work as a private MedSec and 'my' consultant thought cancer care was the same/better on the NHS. Depends where you are mind, I was in London.

It seemed like it was good for people with sort of middling-ish health complaints; cos of the waiting times and convenience of arranging ops. Cancer often went back onto the NHS, A&E doesn't really happen privately, and mundane stuff was often treated with over the counter remedies. (I am in no way joking - I personally would be narked if I used my consultant appts to be told to buy Canestan but it happened.) Also unless you have a private GP you're likely to be having to see the GP a lot to get referred so your insurance will cover it, so if you have a condition that can be managed by the GP they may as well just do it.

Also, it is bloody expensive and your insurers are out to get you. Seriously treat them with the utmost suspicion, the amount of patients I dealt with who'd been caught out by their policies was significant. Exeter and WPA weren't as shit but BUPA are absolute piss takers - they are also driving down standards across the board and generally come across as a racket.

We have it with dh's work.

I have used it a few times, and found it bloody brilliant! NHS waiting list 20-26 weeks, saw a consultant within 48 hours privately.

Physio for bad back NHS waiting 26 weeks (muskat??) privately 5 days phoned on Monday saw them Friday lunchtime. MRI referral took less than a few hours to arrange.

Wish I'd paid for private maternity care NHS is shit for that in my area! Would have saved a lot of post birth problems. I was discharged within 2 hours of birth and ended up nearly dying thanks NHS.

Cancer diagnosis and treatment within days not months. All treatment paid for.

I could go on and on. Never rushed at appointments, and shock horror always on time - always listened to, blood tests and results within 24 hours. Nicer facilities Reception/admin staff generally more that pleasant. I found nurses attitudes a lot better than NHS counterparts. Drugs that's are not routinely available on the NHS you can get.

I Will always use private healthcare now.

The NHS was fantastic once now it's a heaping pile of crap! Unless you have cancer/heart attack/stroke/some form of life threatening issues.

I should add it's not the nurses/doctors etc it's been the mismanagement of decades and the fact it's permanently underfunded.