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Advice needed on private health insurance (In Scotland) for someone who has never had it before.

14 replies

Ralph871 · 06/09/2021 17:14

I have been saying for a while I want to get private health insurance and after being told this morning I'm looking at 73 week wait for a gynaecology outpatient appointment I've finally bitten the bullet and started looking it up.

I used to live in Australia so I'm used to paying for some private healthcare/dentists etc and more than happy to do it however I'm just not sure what kind of policy I need.

We are a family of 2, 2 adults in mid thirties and 2 toddlers. Neither of us have pre existing health conditions but certain cancers and MS is in our family history.

I can get a policy with Aviva for £60 per month and that covers pretty much everything including chemo/radiotherapy, outpatient tests, specialist appointments. £60 per month is very affordable to us and cheaper than what Aussie friends pay per month (albeit that includes dental and opticians etc)

If you have and have had to use your private health can you advise what kind of policy I should look at?

Thanks MNers

OP posts:
2mutsandsomebabies · 06/09/2021 17:19

I'm also interested in this. The Aviva price sounds great- I'm sorry I don't have any information to offer. Did you consult an agent or contact insurers yourself?

NoYOUbekind · 06/09/2021 17:33

I've had private insurance through work, and DH currently has private.

Essentially you are paying to jump the queue - the doctors you see are all NHS docs who do a couple of days private consultancy. If you need a minor procedure, you'll be able to have that privately in a private hospital - but there are only half a dozen of them in Scotland.

There's no private A&E as far as I'm aware. Cancer treatment you'll end up in the NHS - the only thing your private cover will get you is an earlier initial consultation. Though obviously that can be a huge benefit in itself.

Some things just don't exist in private - a friend had a referral to the Murrayfield for a sleep issue, saw a doc then got referred back to the NHS sleep clinic.

Things like physio - private is a huge benefit. DH hurt himself recently and is on fortnightly physio, I'm still on the waiting list for an injury that happened 2 years ago!

What I'm saying really is that 'private' medicine in Scotland isn't a fully developed 'system' like it is in other countries. You'll pay quite a bit to flit between private and NHS infrastructure. But if you can afford it, ability to get up to the top of waiting lists and get access to secondary services like physio may be worth it to you.

allypally999 · 06/09/2021 17:42

Sounds like a good deal to me. I had private insurance through my husband's work (some years with Aviva and some with AXA) and have just bought my own as he is now retired. I used his a lot and have a few conditions so I pay a lot more. I've had some very speedy appointments, lots of physio, 2 small procedures and 2 tiny ops over a few years oh and some counselling. I think its worth it for the peace of mind that speedy assistance can deliver. My private op experience was a world away from an NHS op I had years ago - the treatment was dire and left me scarred emotionally.

weebarra · 06/09/2021 17:52

I have to disagree with a pp. My cancer was diagnosed through the nhs but I was treated privately, in the Murrayfield's oncology suite, through my husband's work. The advantage was that the surroundings were nicer and I had access to immediate anti-emetics. When I had low tolerance for one of the chemo drugs, it was quickly changed.
I also had my bilateral mastectomy privately which also gave me physio straight after.
Radiotherapy was done under the nhs.

SylvanasWindrunner · 06/09/2021 17:58

I had a breast lump seen privately a couple of years and the consultant told me I'd be referred back to NHS if it was malignant, so I guess it depends. Thankfully it wasn't!

DPotter · 06/09/2021 18:24

Worked for BUPA in a past life...

Things to consider -

if you have been referred for a Gynae OP appointment it is highly unlikely, you will be covered for any condition with the symptoms you are currently experiencing. Pre-existing Conditions doesn't just cover diagnosed illnesses, but signs and symptoms you have too. So if you're looking for a policy to cover you for the current referral - ain't gonna happen for a policy for an individual - some company ones might cover you. Big might.

Scotland will have a solid private medical provision in places such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, so consider this in relation to where you live.

Cancer treatment you'll end up in the NHS - the only thing your private cover will get you is an earlier initial consultation. Though obviously that can be a huge benefit in itself.

Not so. In fact for new & expensive treatments, you could have access to these before NHS patients do. And yes I know this for a fact.

However there are very few private hospitals in the UK as a whole which will take children for inpatient care so you may find yourself relying on the NHS for them.

£60 sounds very very cheap and you will get what you pay for for private medical insurance. Ask friends and neighbours for their experiences locally.

Check the excess levels, and bear in mind you'll pay an excess for each person using their outpatient benefit, so if the excess is £200, each person will have to pay the 1st £200 for each claim, each year, so in effect £800 for a 4 person family.

Check the amount for physio, and other outpatient benefits?

Does the insurance company have an approved list of providers and what's the coverage like in your area.

Some policies have a waiting time built in, eg you can only claim if the NHS wait is longer than XX.

Ralph871 · 06/09/2021 22:26

@2mutsandsomebabies

I'm also interested in this. The Aviva price sounds great- I'm sorry I don't have any information to offer. Did you consult an agent or contact insurers yourself?
I have literally done a money supermarket quote and this is what I have found. Tbh it's coming up much cheaper than I thought it would so that's why I thought I would ask on here tbh
OP posts:
Ralph871 · 06/09/2021 22:31

@DPotter

Worked for BUPA in a past life...

Things to consider -

if you have been referred for a Gynae OP appointment it is highly unlikely, you will be covered for any condition with the symptoms you are currently experiencing. Pre-existing Conditions doesn't just cover diagnosed illnesses, but signs and symptoms you have too. So if you're looking for a policy to cover you for the current referral - ain't gonna happen for a policy for an individual - some company ones might cover you. Big might.

Scotland will have a solid private medical provision in places such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, so consider this in relation to where you live.

Cancer treatment you'll end up in the NHS - the only thing your private cover will get you is an earlier initial consultation. Though obviously that can be a huge benefit in itself.

Not so. In fact for new & expensive treatments, you could have access to these before NHS patients do. And yes I know this for a fact.

However there are very few private hospitals in the UK as a whole which will take children for inpatient care so you may find yourself relying on the NHS for them.

£60 sounds very very cheap and you will get what you pay for for private medical insurance. Ask friends and neighbours for their experiences locally.

Check the excess levels, and bear in mind you'll pay an excess for each person using their outpatient benefit, so if the excess is £200, each person will have to pay the 1st £200 for each claim, each year, so in effect £800 for a 4 person family.

Check the amount for physio, and other outpatient benefits?

Does the insurance company have an approved list of providers and what's the coverage like in your area.

Some policies have a waiting time built in, eg you can only claim if the NHS wait is longer than XX.

Thank you so much for the insight.

So the quote I have found is comprehensive quote with no excess for the 4 of us with aviva and it is £60 per month. As I said I'm really surprised by this as I thought I would be looking at £100 per month at least.

We live about 25-30 minutes drive from the two private hospitals in Glasgow so that isint an issue.

I just want a policy that covers most eventualities. I am aware that the op gyn issue won't be covered but I never expected it to be, more that the waiting list time shocked me into finally looking at private cover. Will also add that I am an NHS nurse and I'm appalled at the current going ons and I know it will only get worse therefore I am keen to get this up and running.

OP posts:
Dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby · 07/09/2021 00:32

BUPA do 'pay as you go'....just opt to pay for what you need right now.

Dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby · 07/09/2021 00:33

www.bupa.co.uk/health/payg

Dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby · 07/09/2021 00:44

I'm surprised the NHS don't prioritise staff given that they need you fit and well to do your job.

DPotter · 07/09/2021 00:46

It's been a common misconception that NHS staff receive preferential treatment from the NHS......

QOD · 07/09/2021 01:14

I sell PMI
Aviva smash everyone price wise. Might suddenly increase in a few years as they really are super priced. Go for it
As Dpotter says, nhs can’t be faulted BUT some drugs abd new things are available privately before the nhs funds them
There was a breast cancer drug a few years back that private patients coukd access 9mths before nhs patients due to initial cost
Also nhs doesn’t have infinite funding. They have to look at the whole picture. Age/prognosis etc.

Op I’ve never sold to so many nurses as I have the last 18mths. I also sold a policy last week to an nhs consultant oncologist…

Someone else mentioned the 6 week clause, that’s a great option - you get the tests and diagnosis straight away and have surgery if the nhs can’t do it within 6 weeks

I had an unusual fracture a couple of years ago, nhs care was good BUT every fracture clinic was a different person. Not the consultant— because of the rarity of the break I ended up going privately for an mri and consultation as it was like starting afresh at every fracture clinic appointment
I’ll stay at my job very part time instead of retiring in 7 yrs purely as the PMI cover with it is invaluable

Dotoallasyouwouldbedoneby · 07/09/2021 01:31

@DPotter

It's been a common misconception that NHS staff receive preferential treatment from the NHS......
I said I was surprised they didn't, not that I thought they actually did. Years ago I knew some medics in Northern Ireland and they implied they didn't need private health cover as their colleagues would sort them out but I'm not sure they really meant it. I had BUPA cover through employment at the time. I still think it would be cost-effective and efficient to bump NHS staff up lists if they are unable to work owing to the condition. It is a false economy otherwise paying for agency staff to cover their absence etc.
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