My dear old Dad has been paying for a BUPA policy for me (and more recently my family!) but is strapped for cash and can't afford it anymore. It's about £1700 per year for four of us.
We are totally brassic, and obv this is a HUGE amount of money to be spending on something "unnecessary". However, I have Crohn's disease and have recently been having a possible flare up. I'm pg so can't have any investigations until a month or two after the birth (i.e. until Oct/Nov). The policy will end in Sept, so I;m basically wondering if I should try to find the cash from somewhere to keep the policy going. Also, I'm guessing that if the policy lapses, I wouldn't ever be able to get cover in the future for my Crohn's disease (anyone know if that's the case?).
My greatest worry is the possibility of being denied life-saving treatment on the NHS. e.g. my Mum has breast cancer, and was given Herceptin (v expensive treatment) much earlier than she would have been on the NHS. I believe you are only eligible for Herceptin when your cancer prognosis is very poor and you only have months to live (or at least that was the case 5/6 years ago). My Mum was a "borderline" case but because she had private health ins she was given it. She's still clear of cancer (and is still on herceptin), and I have absolutely NO doubt that it's down to the fact that she was able to have it relatively early.
This is pretty rare, right? I mean if private health ins is just about swanky hospitals and getting your dodgy knee seen to more quickly then obv I would have no doubts about letting the policy expire. But if it's more of a life/death choice then erm...I might have to start planning my bank heist
Really interested to hear your thoughts.