Private Health Insurance ???

[DorisDaisyMay]

Hello,
So no one in my family has ever had this and so I have no one to ask. Anyone I do know who ‘goes private’ appears to be extremely wealthy - so I can’t ask them because they could probably pay for any treatment they need regardless.

Does anyone have it? - I mean like BUPA
Would you recommend it?
Do you get access to a private GP?
Do you still have to pay for certain things?

I recently self paid for a private operation and the difference was astounding and I want to find a way to carry on with this sort of care.

I would be grateful for any advice.
TIA

I've had it for around 35 years and would not be without it.

It was part of a company plan, then I changed it to my own plan when circumstances changed.

I've used it for non-urgent but nuisance gynae operations, initial consultations around menopause (though they don't cover menopause once the symptoms are diagnosed as such) and my children used it for things like dermatology where waiting lists on the NHS were over a year.

I now pay what I'd call a modest amount per month for full cover.

The sooner you start it the better because once you have an existing condition, you have to wait anything from 2 to 5 years for that to be covered if at all.

The bonus with private cover is you can choose your consultant, you get seen when you want to be seen, - often within a few days when NHS wait might be months- you get top quality equipment - some NHS scanners are 10 years old compared with new, better state of the art ones used in private hospitals- and you get more frequent follow-ups if needed compared to the NHS.

You can also have a policy which is called shared-responsibility where you pay a percentage of your treatment/ consultations up to a maximum in 1 year. I chose to pay 25% which means I get cheaper premiums overall.

Shop around- the charges vary a lot.

I'd be interested to know what private insurances would cover pre existing conditions. I for one disagree the NHS is wonderful. If you have anything other than covid you have to wait and that includes serious illnesses too. I'm considering private insurance.

I'd be interested to know what private insurances would cover pre existing conditions.

@Sitdowncupoftea No insurance company will cover you for an existing condition because you are taking out insurance- something that may happen in the future.

You can't take out house or holiday insurance once you have been burgled or become ill - it's taken out before the event.

Sometimes you can be covered for an existing condition if you have had no active treatment for between 2 and 5 years but if it's a long term (chronic) condition they may still say no.

This is why it's best to start it when you are young and healthy (often for £30 a month) so you benefit in the future.

I have it hrough work and have used it several times.

The best thing about it now is that I have access to a GP service. Previoulsy you had to go to GP to get a letter of referral to the private consultant. Since Covid I have had three online Private appointments resulting in prescriptions, they email them to my local pharmacy and I collect that afternoon. You can book an appointment at 9am for 930 that day.

My daughters are also covered, one had an MRI recently for her knees and a course of physio. We'd still be waiting for the NHS.

My work policy does cover pre-existing conditions when you join the company.

In my opinions it's worth every penny. It saves waiting for routine operations and appointments but most importantly in our experience is the cancer cover. It puts the NHS to shame. All appointments with your chosen consultant, who you see where you want, when you want and you can choose based on their expertise. Access to treatments not available on the NHS, operations that the NHS wouldn't pay for, no waiting for results, often given the same day or within a couple of days rather than weeks. No brainer.