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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

If you have private healthcare would you recommend it?

63 replies

sparklins · 04/05/2023 11:47

I'll preface this by saying I am not looking to be bashed for this just hoping to get advice.
Unfortunately I've had some nasty NHS experiences in the past and whilst they are very good in an urgent life or death situations, on a day to day of getting referrals and/or exams and tests to actually get to the bottom of something is a nightmare and my relatives have paid the price with their health.

I've been reviewing our finances and worked out we could potentially afford to pay for a private policy, I like the idea of some who offer yearly health MOTs and similar.
We've had a quote from Vitality who were the first to pop up however the reviews seem less than great so I am back to the drawing board for now.

Does anyone on here have private health insurance and are you happy with it?
And if you are happy with it would you mind recommending the company you are with?

OP posts:
Kamisaka · 04/05/2023 14:09

I have a policy with vitality. Absolutely would recommend. I've used it for physio on my tennis elbow, an online GP appointment (2 days after booking) and a dermatologist appointment to check a dodgy mole. All organised efficiently.
I get half price gym membership through it and every time I go I get points which gives me free cafe Nero and cinema vouchers (weekly and monthly respectively).

Kamisaka · 04/05/2023 14:11

Oh and had a prescription within 4 days of me logging onto the app to make the GP appointment.

Theluggage15 · 04/05/2023 14:17

I have it through work with AXA. They’ve been excellent when I’ve needed to use it.

FancyCurtains · 04/05/2023 14:22

Mushroo · 04/05/2023 11:54

I get it through work with AXA and it’s brilliant. It includes a private GP service and I can usually get a same day appointment.

For context, I needed a scan. I’m still waiting for the NHS appointment letter to arrive (since Feb).

Privately I’ve seen a GP, consultant, had a blood test, ultrasound and follow up. Privately the whole thing took about 3 weeks.

This is exactly my experience, also with AXA. I’ve used it several times his year already for myself and my daughter. Same day virtual GP appointments, quick referral to specialist consultant in local private hospital where I have received same day scans/biopsies/blood tests etc and very quick results. My daughter had a blood test last week and the results were back within 24 hours. The process, beginning to end, was faster than getting an NHS GP appointment.

However, it’s paid for through my partners employer. I’ve no idea what it would cost otherwise.

whumpthereitis · 04/05/2023 14:30

I have it, my husband and I are both covered through his work. We do have access to a private GP and a private A&E in the UK. I do consider it absolutely worth it. I had to go to A&E after an animal bite and they saw me immediately upon arrival.

girlfriend44 · 04/05/2023 15:02

Self pay is another option don't forget.

Rainydaysgetmedown · 04/05/2023 15:07

Yes no brainer

GnomeDePlume · 04/05/2023 15:43

I'm another who gets it through work. I had an endometrial ablation and DH had some knee surgery.

Both of us found the overall experience was better as well as much much quicker. Both of our surgeries have been in a private hospital. Free parking, private room, quieter and calmer space.

ADHDGURL · 04/05/2023 19:13

Can anyone advise (sorry to jump on your thread OP🙏) if its worth it with pre existing chronic conditions (diabetes/fibroids) I've waited 7 months for a reply from NHS gynaecologist, could take a work benefit offer but worried it won't be eligible for treatment..

DeedlessIndeed · 04/05/2023 20:12

@ADHDGURL I think self-funded private treatment would be better for you.

Most PMI is either fully underwritten which will generally specifically exclude pre-existing conditions (or face eye-watering premiums), or alternatively you get a it on a moratorium basis, where anything pre-existing for the last 5 years isn't covered until x amount of time on the plan.

loulouljh · 04/05/2023 20:15

Have BUPA...not finding them very user friendly at the minute. Has taken an age to get an authorisation code and finally get an appointment. Would look to other providers when the cover expires.

DailyEnergyCrisis · 04/05/2023 20:16

Funnily enough I was talking to a friend about Vitality yesterday and in her case they were a nightmare to claim through and she’s desperate to move but her cover is through work so she can’t.

We use AXA and they’ve been fantastic for several issues over several years.

Bunce1 · 04/05/2023 20:17

Vitality is shit- it’s all gimmicks. I have it through work.

We also have AVIVA through DHs work and they are fantastic. I have used them twice. Have had a personal nurse concierge both times and it was great. One was for a physio thing and another for a minor operation. Both cost me just the initial £100 Co pay. Than nothing after that.

went to my local private hospital. Care was excellent.

InconvenientPeg · 04/05/2023 20:24

Have Bupa through work and had an endometrial ablation and then a hysterectomy. Complete lifesaver, a week after the hysterectomy, I got a letter from the NHS referral that had been made a year previously letting me know I had an initial assessment in three months 🤦🏻‍♀️

There's an online GP which helps with some of the bottle necks and I found the process easy though had to keep an eye on whether I had the right codes and stuff.

It was such a good experience, I now pay for DH and the kids to be on it.

cptartapp · 04/05/2023 20:33

DH has it through work and added me to the policy for a £200 annual excess.
Twelve months ago he was referred on the NHS to MSK for a bad back. Became unbearable so went via BUPA, had trial of physio then surgery within a couple of months and and will probably be signed off next week. Still not heard from NHS.
I have been under cardiology, endocrinology and ENT last year via BUPA. I was almost cured of my ear problem by the time I saw NHS ENT. I'd had two private MRI scans whilst waiting for NHS endo and am having a cardiac procedure next month on BUPA with which if I'd waited for NHS would probably be dead.
Best money ever spent. And I've worked for the NHS for 33 years.

Thriwit · 04/05/2023 20:36

I’m another who has BUPA through work. It’s been brilliant.
I’ve had physio & acupuncture covered - just call them, speak to one of their physios, they authorise the referral and I pick the physio I want.
DS had an appointment with a specialist paediatrician within a week - we had a phone appt with Babylon GP, & they referred. From experience, we’d have waited at least a year with NHS.
I had gynae scans and the operation that was medically best for me, one that wasn’t even an option with NHS.
All in all, I wouldn’t be without health insurance if I could possibly help it.

rosiebl · 04/05/2023 20:41

Have an Axa policy through work. Pay the extra to extend to my family. Choose a GP time slot for a video call, same day. Once referred, have a list of consultants sent to us to choose from. Book directly, seen within a few days. Had to claim for my kids a few times. Always really quick and easy to deal with. Not needed it (other than the GP service) for me or DH so far. Highly recommend if you can afford.

PolkaDotMankini · 04/05/2023 20:47

I'm have a Vitality scheme through work (the company pays for me, I pay for the DC). It's as good as you want it to be on the day-to-day wellness bits.

What I value is the peace of mind. I had a cancer scare when DS was tiny and before I had private cover. I had to wait 2 weeks from my GP' referral to see a specialist, then it was the wrong one so they referred me on, then that referral got lost and so it was 3 months before I actually saw the right specialist. Then waiting 6 weeks for surgery, when they thought it was probably a benign tumor but they weren't sure. Those 4.5 months of having to wait for answers were absolutely awful and the mental strain was immense. I really, really wished I'd had private cover so I didn't have to go through that.

Effingmagicfairy · 04/05/2023 20:49

Have a look at Simply Health. It’s a Cash back plan, I have yearly MOTs on mine, consultant appts, you also get allowance towards Dental, Optician, chiropractic, osteo, chiro, hospital stays. So you can self refer and just check Simply Health accepts. I’ve spent way over what I’ve paid in this year. So you don’t get operations if needed but we would look to self fund. My work provide a private GP service which is great.

LisaD1 · 04/05/2023 20:52

I have Axa through work and they’ve been great. I had various pains, mainly hip and knee. Had a video call with one of their GP’s and was referred for X-rays, whilst there they wanted to do MRI and gor
approval in less than 10 mins, treated within a week. I’ve now added DH and my DD.

Orangesandlemons77 · 04/05/2023 21:21

We have Benenden and have used them for varicose vein surgery and also to investigate abdo pain (ultrasound, mri and consultant) last year. Found it very quick and helpful.

Chipswithketchup · 04/05/2023 21:54

Very happy with Vitality. I’ve just had a major op fully paid for with my insurance (17 week wait on the NHS) and have had several other smaller ops/procedures over the years & no complains whatsoever. The online GP service is great & you can usually get a same or next day appointment plus a referral. Oh and our insurance covers pre-existing conditions (DH had cancer years ago so this was essential for us).

ADHDGURL · 04/05/2023 22:15

DeedlessIndeed · 04/05/2023 20:12

@ADHDGURL I think self-funded private treatment would be better for you.

Most PMI is either fully underwritten which will generally specifically exclude pre-existing conditions (or face eye-watering premiums), or alternatively you get a it on a moratorium basis, where anything pre-existing for the last 5 years isn't covered until x amount of time on the plan.

Thank you for your advice @DeedlessIndeed 🙏

Moraxella · 04/05/2023 22:24

@whumpthereitis is the private A&E in London?

ginghamstarfish · 04/05/2023 22:32

Depends where you live or how far you're prepared to travel. We have it through my husband's job, but have used it only a handful of times. Was in south of Scotland, had to go to Glasgow or Edinburgh, even just to see a consultant, then back for test, back for treatment etc. Now in Cumbria, again would have to go back to Scotland or Newcastle. Obviously that wouldn't be a big thing for something serious, but a long way to go if you're not near a city.