If you have private health insurance, do you get to see the gp sooner?

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Where i live its at least a 7 day wait, unless its a dire emergency.

Im wondering if having private health care is faster/better??

I hate the wait, im a real worrier.

No. You can see private GPs but appointments are usually v expansive. Do you have any walk in options where you are?

No but some schemes provide access to private GP appointments. You can find private GP services online too I believe, no insurance needed. I assume anything prescribed is charged at non NHS rates.

Yes, my policy includes private GP appointments, usually by video call or phone call initially.

You don’t necessarily need a full private health insurance policy, though. You can book a private GP eg via Bupa or Dr Online and pay for the appointment. You would also pay a private prescription for any medication (these are higher than NHS prescription costs).

Sorry to clarify as you said ‘see the GP’ - you don’t see YOUR GP any sooner. You might see a private one.

Mine includes GP, Nurse and physio with Bupa, can pretty much book a video call or telephone straight away, need to see own GP for Face to Face in my area

So some plans include a private gp appointment quickly and some don't?

I have access to a private gp and can get an appointment within a couple of hours. You can just pay for it as and when you need it if you don't want the whole health insurance package. Mine is with BUPA they're great.

There are quite a few plans that include a GP appointment option. I specifically requested it at my current (small) employer when we were looking at options. There are some cheap plans where it’s one of the only benefits of the plan too.

of course prescriptions are more expensive as you have to pay what the pharmacy charges not the NHS cost

Yes but there is a catch!

I can usually book online/ phone same day, no charge with the corporate insurance we have but any prescription is obvs extra and we had to ring the pharmacy first to check they had it and would take the prescription, then go back to prescriber to send it. For antibiotics, and much like it is a godsend.

But, AXA have now stopped referrals via insurance so you have to get an NHS GP referral for private treatment for it to be included on insurance, so end up back waiting for an appointment with GP... Very annoying. Only exception is for things physio like or problems that don't need gp requested bloods or x rays / ultra sounds. All are covered but only via NHS GP which negates the private coverage in the first place.....

We have access to a gp through our cover but it's all virtual so only so much use...

Where we live, GP appointments are for on the day emergencies and you can only book them by phoning at 8.30 am. I have sat repeatedly clicking redial, got through at 9.15, to be told no more appointments today, try the online service.
The online service opens at 6pm. There are 30 slots, which are all gone by 6.35pm.
I would love to be able to book an appointment for 7 days time.

We have virtual GP provision with our private medical cover, but its pretty rubbish - not least because it is only virtual. So now we have a private GP, and for £150 a month for the both of us we have unlimited home (or work) visits at your convenience and direct contact with the same dr all the time. Of course you have to pay privately for prescriptions and blood tests but it is a great service

I work in this area (well, general insurance which typically includes private medical (PMI)).

Some private health plans offer GP as well, some don’t.

You can just buy a private GP appointment what we would call ‘out in the market’ from many providers. Trouble is if your medication costs £300, that’s what you pay for it. But yes you can get those quickly.

If you are thinking of getting PMI my fairly long experience and what I have seen and been told by clinicians, just don’t get BUPA health insurance. I don’t have a view on their GP services ironically, or their dental. The rates they pay treatment providers are outrageously low (I spoke to an Osteopath who actually did the maths and told me that if he were to accept BUPA, he would have to work for £2.50 per session!). They are also really sticky (in comparison to other providers) in terms of what they pay for, for more complex conditions although I believe they could be good for less complex illness. So lots of clinicians are just not accepting BUPA now because it would put them out of business. I can see it going this way more and more which would worry me as a Policy Holder (not to worry the existing PH who posted above who seems happy so all good!) Unless you get BUPA international but I think you would get that through work.

If you have the money just buy a GP consultation online but tbh if it’s not urgent I would probably be tempted to wait and save my money.

I have found the best way to get a quick GP appointment is to go via online consultation if your GP's does this service ( look via your HC website). Type in symptoms. The GP will look at it and phone you back if it's deemed serious ( don't know what happens otherwise). I have got an appointment the same day via this route a couple of times.

Our health insurance gives us access to an online/ zoom GP appointment but for more serious concerns. But with our GP we fill in an econsult and talk to someone within a guaranteed.48 hours and usually within 3 hours.

Yes, I’ve been insured with BUPA, Aviva, and AXA. Each of my policies includes access to a digital GP service. I receive login credentials to easily book a video consultation, typically on the same day; if not, it’s always the next day with plenty of available time slots. After the consultation, I usually receive a referral via email within an hour, and all copies of the letters are also sent to my NHS GP practice. Then, I contact my insurance provider, who also has a copy of the referral. They provide me with an authorization code, and from there, I can book an appointment with my chosen specialist at a local private hospital.

I can get guaranteed same day appointments with my BUPA policy...there is option of face to face or online.

I’m with vitality. I can get virtual next day appointments. They are quite good but they can only do so much.

Our private insurance includes GP. It’s usually online the same day but face to face if necessary.

In the past when out policy didn’t cover GP appointments, we paid for private GP appointments which were usually same day face to face or occasionally next day.

Well i must admit, i phoned my surgery and got an emergency appointment less than 3 hours later...had a long wait but certainly can't complain...seen a gp I've seen before, she listened, checked me out and reassured me I'm not totally crazy.
Was very impressed, and very grateful.