Does having private healthcare help with your health anxiety?

[JacknDiane]

I've tried everything to overcome this. Medications, therapy, cbt twice, counselling, read books, attended seminars, spoke to friends, tried hypnotherapy, but couldn't be hypnotised....honestly I think nothing will help me except private health insurance, even though Im on minimum wage and will really struggle to afford it. But I feel its a last resort.

So my question is, does having private health insurance reassueyour health anxiety?

I can't see why it would? Generally making accommodations doesn't make anxiety better it usually makes it worse.
Why would you see it helping OP? I live in the USA where private insurance is the norm and it doesn't help health anxiety at all.

I’m really sorry, I haven’t seen it do any good at all. Quite the contrary. DSS has become much, much worse with ever private health insurance funded investigation. The investigations are done much more quickly so his mind jumps to ever new possibilities much more quickly than when he navigated NHS priorities

i really hope you find what you need to stop this health anxiety ruining your life.

Actually this is true. The reason I want it is so I can get any worry investigated quickly. But I know id then just move onto the next worry. Maybe this would make my HA worse, not ease it, more like encourage it.
I dont know, ive always thought private medical insurance is the answer for me. I thought loads of posters would say yes it cured my health anxiety, whereas I think I would be at the private hospital getting everything under the sun investigated until they banned me 🤦🏻‍♀️

No I don’t think so. A friend of mine had it through work and had/s health anxiety/death anxiety and I just felt it fed into this as she was accessing all sorts of tests and consultations a lot of the time. She ended up losing her job and then insurance as a result so tried to do the same with NHs which didn’t allow as much access so stopped the need for constant reassurance

I am going to say yes. It has helped me massively. I have never used the policy (and hope I never have to, God willing), but knowing it is there is very comforting.

Are you also aware that the more you use it, the more it will cost the next year? So even if you can just afford it this year, your premiums will be much higher next year if you use it for everything you want to get checked out.

I didn't realise that.

My friend had private healthcare with her former employer and she ended up having many invasive and risky tests and procedures that she didn’t need. She had also been put on unnecessary medication. How does she know this? After seeing an NHS consultant about the same condition he was horrified that someone so young had so many procedures (that had risk to them) and subsequently was put on medication she didn’t need. He said this was typical of private hospitals and it was all about money and simply keeping the patient (customer) coming back for more. Even though her consultant works privately as well he’s old school and believes it’s completely wrong to keep patients as customers when you know full well they are ok after some basic tests being performed. He could have got himself in trouble saying all of this but he decided to take the risk anyway as he cares about his patients. He said there’s a good market when private hospitals / health care knows someone suffers from health anxiety as they know they’ll keep coming back for more reassurance, hence more tests and more money, so repeat customers basically. They make HA sufferers feel special and that they’re finally getting the attention they’ve been looking for with their health. He actually told her to go and start living and enjoying her life. She’s often said that 5 minute chat with her consultant changed her outlook for the better.

My experience is that private consultants are very specialist, listen and are attentive. They don't rush you, dismiss you or make you feel silly even if you have HA.

You can see by my username that I have extreme fear of cancer. Right now, I'm regretting ever drinking alcohol, eating sugar, using the microwave, using aluminium deodorant etc. I'm scared too death and very lonely with this chronic fear which is like being condemned to a prison.

All of that to say, private medical gives me peace of mind that I will speak to a professional and not have any gate keeping towards scans etc. if/when panic gets to be too much.

They have never pushed medication or scans, in my experience. I'm medication free. Hope this helps and hope you're better today.

No, they’ll just find ways to reject your claims and then drop you if you’re costing them too much money

Private healthcare is supposed to be more professional and of better quality than public healthcare. But the medication is the same. The treatment in the practice is better quality i assumer.

Same for me! Definitely helps with my peace of mind.