I can't believe I am starting a topic about private healthcare...

[2Happy]

...but I am.

dh (a vet) has just made partner. He has to buy in (good luck to us trying to find an enourmous loan at the moment) and therefore needs locum insurance - so that if he is taken ill he can afford to pay someone to do his work until he is better (otherwise he would have to pay for a locum out of his wage and so have no money left for loan repayments, mortgage repayments, food, y'know, the little things!).

But we were reading the smallprint of the locum insurace agreement and it's shocking. Things like, you can't go off for a bad back unless it's radiologically proven to be neurological (ie MRI shows a slipped disc) or a consultant deems you unfit for work. Similarly, you can't be signed off with depression unless a consultant psychiatrist says you're unfit to work.

Now I think this is a waste of NHS resources, insulting to GPs, and would also be impractical - how long would you have to wait before an appointment came through for nonurgent sciatica. Ages. Plus, I've read a few scarey threads on MN about the cost of kids dental care etc. So we're starting to think about private health insurance. I am totally against private insurance, I don't like it, don't believe in it, don't want it. But I can see dh's POV, he's the main breadwinner, and particularly given his job, back problems and the like are not unlikely.

So does anyone on MN have private health insurance? What company is recommended? Who should we steer clear of?! TIA for any advice.

moneysavingexpert info might be useful

we have had bupa, axa and pruhealth cover usually through work
we have used it to see specialists and I've had physio through it

you don't have to insure everyone so you could just insure your DH

That's really helpful, thanks. Am only tempted to insure the kids after reading a thread on here recently by someone who's kids needed orthodontic treatment. The cost

We have had basic health insurance from year dot.

You don't say where you are - in the UK?

Things might be different for us here in Ireland, where there is no NHS to speak of.

There is a three tier system here:
Public - which is very badly funded and resources are dreadful with huge waiting lists - over a year - you have to means tested to get this for free. if you are sick and need treatment but aren't eligible to have a medical card (public), then you have to shoulder the entire cost of medical treatment and your stay in the hospital yourself - you are not allowed leave the hospital without paying.

Insured with public services available. Waiting lists only a few months! This is what we have, it costs us 1700 per year.

And private insurance - pay through the nose for this, and you are seen quickly in private hospitals clinics.

I think you could get BUPA for your DH.
And if any of your DCs teeth look snaggly get orthodontic treatment insurance for them.

Well done on the promotion.

All private health insurance companies will try and make out that they are the best however beware. The vast majority of them will try and get out of paying for your problem to be treated. Pre-existing conditions are a complete no go and if you're unlucky enough to have a chronic condition (uncurable / long lasting) then you'll have no cover for these either. The terms and conditions book I got with mine was like a bible saying what was, and more likely, what isn't covered. A classic line on illness said that pre-existing illnesses would only be covered if at the time of treatment for the illness you had not had any symptoms or visited any doctors for a period of 12 months or longer. Tell me exactly how you'd end up in a hospital receiving treatment if you hadn't gone to the doctors first!!!

In short, you won't be covered for anything you have wrong with you now, won't get any sort of emergency cover however you will probably be covered if anything nasty unveils itself once you've joined. The cost will also start to rocket year by year the older you get. My father just cancelled his (he's 55) as he started it 5 years ago at £50 a month and they wanted £220 per month this year and he's not had to use it once!

Hope this helps? Sorry for sounding negative.

Thanks, zazen. We are in the UK (thankfully, by the sounds if the Irish system).

Dainese - goodness. It was just that sort of list of exclusions and exceptions on the locum insurance guide that made us consider private healthcare!! He is well, and doesn't have any health problems (that we know of), but I do have that sneaking suspicion that it doesn't matter what insurance you have, they'll all try and wriggle out of a payout if they can!

herbietea - recent threads have said the NHS only covers some ortho work for kids with serious wonkiness, minor wonkiness and you still have to pay

Oh I see, Herbie. I must not have read the MN thread properly. It was someone saying their kids' braces were going to cost £2500 - must have been ceramics then.

oops, x-posts, maybe not then

this was the thread?

That's the one. Shocking.

He can probably get the best deal through a vet organisation (british veterinary association?) - discounts from lots of members etc.