To be terrified that private health insurance will become unaffordable

[TheBelleOfBelfastCity]

I don’t feel comfortable or safe living without it due to waiting lists and the state of the NHS but at the same time I genuinely don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to afford it.

I pay for 20 yo DD’s policy - her renewal came in today at £97/month. Considering it tends to go up around £30 per year it won’t be long before it’s reaching in to the £££s and beyond. Really and truly I do not have the money to pay for this if it continues to go up but at the same time it’s a question of somehow finding the money or DD not receiving the care or treatment that she needs in a timely manner. Just cannot believe that this is what life has come to in what is allegedly a first world country!

I would have agreed with you until recently, I couldn't imagine needing to use it for anything that was covered (I'm 46).

But in the last three years I have had over £30k of operations, procedures and anaesthetics.

My son had his Autism diagnosed and paid for by AXA (£2k)
Two gynae procedures under general anaesthetic
One done under local
At least 5 appts with gynae consultant
a throat operation
an MRI
two trans vaginal scans
a breast appt with a consultant which included mammogram and ultrasound
Three steroid injections in my foot
Shockwave therapy
10 physio sessions

And I feel like adding 'and a partridge in a pear tree'

Looking at that list I sound very unhealthy. 😂

So I think it is incredibly valuable and DH and I intend to pay for private medical cover once his corporate perk runs out when he retires.

I pay £82 per month - in my mid-fifties - I am very concerned when I stop work - 10 years time - how I am going to afford it as I believe the NHS won’t exist in 10 -15 years time! We will go the way America has either their healthcare system.

Most people can't afford private health insurance. They are unaffordable for most people I know.

Maybe we should all focus on making a louder voice that we need a functioning public healthcare system rather than comparing different private health policies.

I have private cover. I'm not against it. I also work for a large private healthcare provider. But it's 100% not the answer and moving to the US stay-well-or-die scenario is NOT inevitable. We're all just being fed the stupid line that it is. By both our main political parties, and the media.

I hope your daughter gets the help she needs somehow though.

The thing with Bupa is that the outpatient limit is quite low so when that’s used up you have to pay for tests/scans and consultations yourself.

It is very good for inpatient treatment though.

@Soupwithstring Same here! I’m lucky my employer covers it, but I’d still pay for it myself if they didn’t.

When you compare it to the cost of a new iPhone contract, private health insurance actually isn’t that much more expensive. Personally, I know which one I’d rather pay for, but it’s surprising how many people are willing to spend £60-£70 a month on their phone instead, yet they wouldn't pay for insurance 🤷🏼‍♀️

That seems really high. I pay just under £300 for me and DH and have a high level of cover and low excess. For a twenty year old that seems super high.

Mental health?

Not sure if you're in the UK but mental health care is appalling for all age groups but has the biggest impact on young people. Constant bed crises, having to travel miles from home for inpatient units & even further for specialist eating disorders beds.

Suicide is the biggest killer in that age group & mental health the biggest cause of disability.

There's literally nothing in the NHS unless short term IAPT by poorly qualified & poorly trained 'low intensity' workers.

I agree. While I fully appreciate there are many people genuinely can’t afford it there are also plenty of people who simply choose to prioritise differently.

I have a very cheap phone contract, no sky, Netflix, no Amazon prime or any other subscriptions. I don’t even have a landline.

But given the success of Netflix and the like lots of people must use them.

Same for things like nails and waxes etc.

It rises very sharply if you have any pre-existing conditions, disabilities or risk factors. Either that or there are extensive exclusions.

It might be doable for your family but that doesn't mean everyone is in the same boat.

@Serencwtch Of course, I’m only speaking for myself here and what I’d do if my employer didn’t offer that perk.

But my point about unnecessary spending still stands – no one truly needs a brand-new iPhone every year, yet many people commit to contracts that are around £50-£60 a month. Often, there’s more than one person in the household on a similar plan, which really adds up.

This - IN BOLD and big letters.

I totally agree with you. And anyone who thinks it’s a) the same as NHS or B) not as good hasn’t had to use it. Seeing who you want when you want and getting treatment quickly and efficiently at a time and place to suit you is invaluable. We are so used to the crapness and inefficiencies of the NHS that we hve forgotten what decent person centred car is like

private cancer care extended my DH Life for more than 2 years most of that he had an excellent quality of life. He had no wait for treatment, never waited more than 24 hours for scan results, was treated by a doctor we chose who was a world leading expert in his field and had access to several drugs the NHS wouldn’t consider funding but are standard of care in other countries

I’ve used it for lots of other things too, mainly gynae, breast and orthopaedic. I’ve also used it extensively for paediatric treatment for my kids mainly gastro, eyes, tonsils, adenoids and allergies where they were seen quickly and efficiently without fuss and quick effective diagnosis and treatment

I'm not really sure what you expect OP. Your daughter has a chronic condition and medical care is very expensive. Even the vet treatment is expensive!

I agree but many policies will exclude MH routinely so it may not help

I disagree with people saying NHS just as good. When I had very severe mental health problems after my son was born, I was told by the NHS I wouldn't be able to have therapy for over 6 months. I was able to access private the next day. My husband has also accessed top quality therapy. When he had a possible heart condition earlier, he was able to be tested for 6-7 conditions and was given the all-clear that day. He'd previously waited 16 hours in A&E for a blood test.

DS has been seen by some absolutely top specialists (who also work for the NHS) days after discovering a problem.

We get it through work but it's honestly so brilliant for us.

My point is it is nothing like £50-60 a month if you have chronic illnesses, disability or risk factors.

For someone like me to take out a policy like yours it would run in to several hundred a month & that's with exclusions. Way out of reach for me through no fault of my own.

I've had to pay out for private treatment of over £10,000 before. I would not have been able to take out an insurance policy to cover that as would have been an exclusion as a child

Most chronically ill & disabled people would jump at the chance to have private cover for £60 and a good proportion will be paying for private 'top up' treatment costing alot more than that.

You are hugely privileged to be able to access affordable cover.

20 is pretty young when she has the NHS, also, does she have a degree or a decent job? Many companies provide it, mine always have and my husband's company provides it for both of us so we use that. So that's always an option for her.

Definitely no company insurance on the horizon, sadly! She’s doing a healthcare related degree and will be working in the NHS at very least for a few years after she graduates.

I agree though, I get mine through work and it’s a fantastic bonus. I wouldn’t work anywhere that doesn’t provide it nowadays

Get a corporate job with health insurance. Alternatively if she is working in the NHS, and gets into hospital management she'll be able to have a word in the right ears to get fitted in for appointments and procedures...

But quicker appointments could well save your life… it certainly did back in the early 2000s when BUPA would happily organise and pay for a consultants appointment for my now late husband, when the NHS said that as he was young there was no need.

Oh, that's a shame and I agree, I also wouldn't work anywhere that didn't provide it. For now though I would think the NHS would suffice, I mean if she's healthy etc. Or can you get her on your insurance? Usually you can if the company provides it, you might just have to pay a little more but it wouldn't be as much as you're paying out of pocket.

Benenden are fantastic for more minor things (we had it in the past!) but many procedures, hospitals, consultants etc are excluded which is what allows them to charge such a low price. It’s a brilliant scheme, just not suitable for us unfortunately as they don’t cover spinal conditions.

The NHS is so bad that many feel that they need private health insurance for their family. Anyone still banging their pots and pans on a Thursday? 🤣

exactly. Quicker appointment, quicker tests, quicker results, quicker treatment. No waiting lists.