Private healthcare for the family - any tips?

[Notalwaysabowlofcherries]

When I was working FT I had the entire family covered through work, but I am freelance now and we don't have cover. Need to get it sorted pronto and wondering if anyone has any tips for which healthcare providers offer the best deals. I think I'm right in saying it works out far more expensive doing it as an individual rather than through a company scheme, but sadly that is the route I have to go down and am rather unfamiliar with it. All tips/experience gratefully received!

We had it through DH employer for many years. When he retired we carried it on at a discount.
My experience in using it was that the whole thing was a racket. Test after expensive test. I had a back problem and saw an orthopaedic surgeon who ordered MRI and all sorts of other tests. He never got to the bottom of it.
3 years of pain later I saw an NHS physiotherapist who spotted within half an hour what the problem was and got it sorted.

Do you belong to a professional body? If so, investigate if they have negotiated a discount anywhere.

Otherwise, I'd think carefully about what sort of cover you need - if you're freelance, critical illness cover would probably be a good idea. Or you can get cover for specific illnesses such as cancer / heart attacks etc if you are particularly worried about one thing.

I posted recently about Benenden Health but it's not private health insurance as such, more a fallback if you get stuck on a waiting list. It's really cheap though.

Thanks everyone. May investigate Benenden Health, actually, as am in that situation at the moment with a broken foot that isn't healing and confidence in NHS treatment falling by the day. Really cheap sounds good… The trouble is we will need insurance for the whole family (me, DH, DS and DD) in due course. Interesting to hear your experience, little secret. I have generally had good experience of private healthcare (when covered by work), but then again this is the first time I have really been disappointed by the NHS (of which I am flag waving supporter normally!).

I've heard good things about Bupa from professors I've worked with who now have private practice. Apparently they don't pull cover easily- unlike some of the others.

If you go for Benenden Health it is a set price of £7.80 each a month for each adult and child. It seems they cover pre-existing conditions too although it is a discretionary service. You have to be with them 6 months first though. Might be worth giving them a ring first.