Private health insurance yes or no?

[behappy1736]

I'm really conserving private health insurance. It would be an actors added cost for us but I'm contemplating whether it might be worth it with the current nhs problems and crisis.
So honestly so you think private health insurance is worth it? Why?
And how much do you pay per month? For your Family your self etc?and what provider?
Thank you! 😊

It’s been totally worth it for me. I paid £8600 for the year for just myself.

That’s with AXA.

We have cover through my husbands work including our children so he just pays tax on the benefit.

It enabled me to get a diagnosis of a long term illness during the pandemic within weeks when NHS waiting lists were 6 months for an initial appointment. I dread to think how unwell I would have been if I had to wait that long.

Even after retirement, I will definitely look at keeping cover.

We pay £176 per month for two over 50s with no previous conditions.
That's with Saga.

I consider it 100% worth it with the state of the NHS and waiting lists.

I've thought about it a lot. Problem is though after a long career in the nhs I have very little confidence in private care when things get complicated.

We also have it through my DH's work and he pays tax on the benefit.

DH had a shoulder injury which required a lot of physio and injections, I also had £2k worth of physio this year.

Totally worth it for us on that score, although I'm not sure I'd trust it to help us with any kind of emergency healthcare, afaik the NHS delivers that still and our cover doesn't.

If you don't have any preexisting conditions and won't starve to make the payments, go for it.

I still harbour resentment towards my ex for cancelling DD's health insurance a fortnight before she dislocated her knee when she was 12. Because her knee didn't heal properly and, through the course of trying to find out why, she was then diagnosed with a connective tissue disease that took so long to deal with, her scoliosis was only noticed as she stopped growing (they attributed the difference in her back to the poorly healed knee - with the waiting lists so long, it was wait eight months for an appointment, get sent for x rays, wait another six months for the results, get sent for blood tests, wait again...oh dear, she's finished growing now, what a shame.

It would have been a completely different story had she still been able to access consultant and tests earlier.

I’ve had a few operations this year, in one case I saw a specialist within a week and had the operation two weeks later. The same specialist has a 9 month waiting list to see NHS patients and then a further 6-8 months wait for the operation.
I have needed lots of moles removed and I email a photo of the mole to my dermatologists secretary and within 2 days they have been removed.
I had another medical problem and arranged physio and acupuncture within days all at time’s convenient to me.

I have Vitality cover through work so like others just pay tax on the benefit - I think my premium is about £2,500 per year.

I’ve only had to make use of it once so far, to access therapy for anxiety/depression. I was gobsmacked by how fast it happened - I had a call from them within 24 hours to arrange an assessment, I could have booked that within 48 hours but wasn’t free so had it arranged the following week. After the assessment I was assigned a therapist and our 6 initial sessions started a week later. She had the scope to add on an additional 3 sessions at no cost to me, which we also used.

The other advantage of a Vitality policy are the Rewards. If you can hit their activity requirements (which earn you points each week) you qualify for various freebies. I hit the requirement each month and with that I get free Amazon Prime; a free Rakuten TV code every fortnight; 2 free cinema tickets a month; a free Cafe Nero drink each week and have also purchased an Apple Watch for £39!

www.vitality.co.uk/rewards/

We use Benenden health which is only £11 each per person- any age- but it is discretionary (depends on NHS waiting lists) and only covers certain surgeries.

I have had good use from it so far, recently had an ultrasound and MRI as waiting times with the NHS were high and now a referral to a specialist.

I also used it for laser surgery for varicose veins when the NHS wouldn't do that.

100% yes - I wouldn’t feel comfortable not being insured with the way things are in the NHS at the minute. Not sure how much mine costs as it’s through work but teen DD’s renewal with Bupa has just come in at £350 for this year.

For us it has been well worth it, especially with DD over the past few years who has needed constant consultant input, scans etc for back problems. At the time she was diagnosed the NHS waiting list for an initial scoliosis consultation was 100 weeks, privately we got an appointment within 2.

I've been looking into this, it looks good almost too good to be true... 🤣 Can you help me with a few things please?
Does it cover say an mri for diagnostics?

I have had since November an Ultrasound, something found on that needed an MRI so I had that too and now have an appointment with a specialist as well.

Waiting times for the NHS were around 16-20 weeks for each of these.

Yes have a look at the website it is up to £1800 for diagnostics I think. I think the varicose veins surgery was around £4K.

Thank you. And have you used the 24/7 GP service?

I absolutely would if I could afford it. The state of the NHS is scary right now. It doesn’t feel safe.
Not sure I agree with the fact it’s the same doctors, so the more people go private, the longer the NHS wait will be. However, that’s the fault of the system, not the patients. At the end of the day, you have to look after number one, and if you can afford it, why the hell not. Shame they don’t offer private ambulances and hospitals so that people aren’t needlessly dying in their homes waiting the 8 hours + for the ambulance to arrive.

I have not used the GP service as used my own GP.

I am on a low income / PIP and regard Benenden essential right now same as e.g. prescription payment cert.

I would recommend Benenden, been a member for 25 years, our whole family is covered by them, used it many times, unfortunately, always been straightforward.

Thank you! Is it an easy process to get through your gp then contact Benenden for a referral?

I agree

I have it through my work and it really is invaluable, I saw a GP, referred to consultant and was diagnosed and treated within 3 months (following an extensive testing/scan). Current NHS waiting for my condition is often 2 years plus for all of the above! I wouldn't be without it now.

@behappy1736 yes always found it easy, just check the delay under NHS, speak to Benenden, they will then suggest the name and address of three private consultants and what locations that you can see, and then you can arrange an appointment, all billed directly through BUPA who seem to deal with it all now, better as you used to have to pay and then be refunded. if you live close to their hospital at Benenden you can be seen there. Usually it’s the initial consultation that is authorised and then you just need to speak to them to authorise any additional tests the consultant suggests. I have seen, gynaecologist, had my gallbladder surgery, my unfortunate MS diagnosis all done under Benenden. My DS’ have seen ENT, dermatologists even an Ed Psychologist all through Benenden. It’s a very good service.

I pay £268 month but considering my conditions it's pretty cheap !

On blood thinners
Heart meds
IBD
Bladder- kidney issues
Auto immune disease

It's not the fault of anyone doing it but this is exactly what the government is hoping people will do and quietly not mention changing the NHS, just how bad it is to scare everyone. Before long it will be totally normal for everyone bar the poorest to have insurance - privatisation by the back door.