Private health insurance - should we keep it?

[mamhaf]

We currently have Bupa healthcare insurance on a special rate via my employer.

But the premiums have steadily risen (as they do for everyone as you get older) and the latest renewal notice says it'll be £134 a month with a £250 per person per year.

If we have a £500 excess it'll be £109.

We have used it a few times for various treatments over the years - e.g. some gynae problems for me; a back problem for dh and a minor skin complaint for dd2.

We've also had some good and bad experiences with the NHS and so the private healthcare has been useful for peace of mind.

But with prices rising, neither of our jobs all that secure in the present climate, I'm wondering whether to keep it going.

Moneysavingexpert says it's a luxury not a necessity and suggests putting the premiums into a a high-interest account as a way of insuring yourself - that way if you need private physiotherapy or the like you can pay for it from that fund.

What do other people think? If you have private health insurance, what are the advantages would you say?

Has anyone had experiences with the NHS which makes them wish they had had the insurance?

Thanks

Sorry, I meant £250 excess per person per year.

I would be on the streets before I gave up my insurance. It's absolute number one priority here and I do not consider it a luxury at all. We have used ours numerous times for the whole family. The NHS can be great but we appreciate being able to see who we want, when we want and get second opinions from the best people.

The advantages for us have been

Immediate fertility investigations completed in a fraction of the time it would have taken on the NHS

24 hour access to a paediatrician when DS was a baby. He diagnosed a milk allergy completely overlooked by the NHS

I discovered a breast lump one night and within 24 hours had had a mammogram, ultrasound, consultant appointment and removal. I have since been able to see the consultant within 24 hours with subsequent lumps.

6 osteopath appointments paid for, no questions asked for a back injury

We never have to see a registrar or junior doctor for any complaint and feel confident that the person we see knows what they are talking about and if they don't we can see someone else. They have the time to spend with us to really get to the crux of the problem. No drug is off limits due to cost, no postcode lottery.

danny who is this with and how much do you pay per month if you dont mind me asking?

It's AXA but it is through my DH's work and we pay next to nothing for it, I think that I am free and the kids are £12 a month. He has always had it through work but I used to pay for myself when I was single through norwich union. If we didn't get it through work we would pay for a it ourselves. If you have friends who are also interested in joining then you can often arrange a group policy and that works out much cheaper