Private medical insurance

The fact that the NHS included private practice at its inception is because there wouldn't have been enough doctors to staff it if it hadn't.

There will be no doctors practicing now who were not trained by the NHS, so there is no need to 'buy them out' in the way there was at the start.

I think it is probably inevitable that people will have to pay into some sort of insurance before long, but where that will leave those of us who are getting on a bit, or who have existing conditions is anyone's guess. It is very frightening.

I can't afford private but we are with Benenden and they have been very good. I also pay it for my daughter . They pay for consultation and tests.
I think anyone who can afford to have private care should. The NHS is wonderful. ..when you access it. But the wait is often too long.

The NHS will never be able to afford all the needs of the population from cradle to grave, no matter how much money you throw at it. Treatments have become much more expensive and the population is increasing dramatically.

We now pay for dental, opthalmology and some ENT treatments. Conditions like varicose veins, which can be painful and eventually lead to ulcers are no longer treated. Rationing and exceptions will increase more and more.

There is no easy answer. You can increase national insurance payments, but any extra will very quickly be mopped up as further treatments emerge.

My belief is that for those that can afford it, private treatment takes some of the pressure off the NHS for items like hip and knee replacements, and indeed for events such as Sarnia's daughter experienced. You will never get a private A and E or for long term conditions, they are not going to generate sufficient profit for private companies.

It will inevitably lead to those with the money getting quicker treatment, but that is true of life in general. More money leads to better housing, better education, and better health in general as a result. Even in communist societies the leaders obtain a vastly better quality of life to the rest of the population.

My youngest daughter was diagnosed with an inflamed gallbladder with a huge gallstone. The GP told her there would be a wait of at least a year to see a consultant. Her company provide private health care so she decided to use that. She saw the consultant, had the scan to confirm the problem and given a date for the op all within 2 weeks from her initial appointment and her operation is in 5 weeks time. I can see why people opt for this if they can afford it.

Been, not Benn, although would have voted for him. Only reasonable Labour man I knew of.

Kali2

Well, I would totally understand the temptation, for sure.

And yet- it is so worrying that the whole NHS debacle is not just due to Covid, but a deliberate and totally calculated attempt (and they are succeeding) to destroy the NHS- and create a desire, a need, to switch to Private Insurance - leaving those who cannot afford it, or those with pre-exisiting conditions that will be either excluded, or added at huge cost.
I have been castigated on another thread for saying this- but many top surgeons now work fully for private care (treating 1 instead of 4 or more, as it takes more time for consultations, and more investigations, tests, polite conversation, and more), and a huge proportion work for both NHS and the Private Sector- largely leaving the NHS work to Juniors, and spending much more time and effort on much more lucrative private work (still getting paid by NHS mind).

So it is very worrying. I could totally understand, as per education, that people could be tempted and go across to private insurance, or private schools - not as a true choice, but out of dire necessity- and unbearable pain, etc.

You do seem to have a irrational idea about private practice. If the Conservatives wanted to sell off the NHS it would surely have Benn done under Mrs Thatcher. Private practice has been part of the NHS since it’s inception in 1948. Labour also had a great deal of allowing private practice to replicate, and don’t tell me it was under Blair, it was still Labour, he also tied us into appallingly expensive contracts lasting many years. Having worked in the NHS and seen how PP, involving NHS patients to their hospitals, can reduce waiting lists. Consultants talk no differently to their PP, than to their NHS patients, unless in London of course. I like a country where people have choice, and are not told what they should or should not be doing. Don’t forget people who use private facilities pay twice, whether it’s or education, hospital treatment. I don’t believe their is a push towards privatisation. Compare though family in Germany are seen quicker, treatment quicker, through Government and Insurance based care. Although having the same problems with Social Care as we are.
www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/private-practice/working-in-private-practice/consultants-and-private-practice

Probably cheaper to do pay as you go, instead of paying each month as not all the fee is covered and you pay the short fall, also depends on your age.
Hospital NHS consultants have the choice to do private work or just NHS, those that do private work have reduced hours in NHS (with reduced pay per thier contract)
Or some work full time in the private sector and not in the NHS.
A NHS Hospital consultant will do the private work in thier own time, absolutely rubbish that NHS work is done by Junior staff.
Also, all professionals clinical support can work both sectors NHS and Private all this is declared on their contracts and declared to the Tax office.
I did this for several years.

Oh, just read your following post. I think it unlikely that private health insurance will cover you for an existing condition.

Get a couple of quotes and look at them very carefully to see what is excluded and what the financial limitations are.

Obviously I don’t know your age or your recent health issues but you may find these push the premiums up to a high level. Remember private health care is a business and is there to make a profit.

Particularly check that your recent health issues and anything that may be related to them, however tenuously, are covered.

Most private health care has a top limit, stated in the policy, at which point the cover will cease. Most people don’t realise how expensive drugs and nursing care is, if it’s required for any length of time.

I think private health care works best for one-off (hopefully) situations, such as hip replacement. What it doesn’t work for, at all, is any kind of chronic illness, that requires extended expensive treatment.

Kali2

Well, I would totally understand the temptation, for sure.

And yet- it is so worrying that the whole NHS debacle is not just due to Covid, but a deliberate and totally calculated attempt (and they are succeeding) to destroy the NHS- and create a desire, a need, to switch to Private Insurance - leaving those who cannot afford it, or those with pre-exisiting conditions that will be either excluded, or added at huge cost.
I have been castigated on another thread for saying this- but many top surgeons now work fully for private care (treating 1 instead of 4 or more, as it takes more time for consultations, and more investigations, tests, polite conversation, and more), and a huge proportion work for both NHS and the Private Sector- largely leaving the NHS work to Juniors, and spending much more time and effort on much more lucrative private work (still getting paid by NHS mind).

So it is very worrying. I could totally understand, as per education, that people could be tempted and go across to private insurance, or private schools - not as a true choice, but out of dire necessity- and unbearable pain, etc.

Yes am very worried as have been informed that it would likely be May 2022 before i could receive treatment and that in itself raises more concerns and anxiety levels..

Bea65, the premiums will be sky high ….especially with your recent health setback…..
Our NHS is the envy of the world. I do agree that waiting lists for routine operations are quite long , but if there’s an acute situation, you are in the right country, in the right hands….

Well, I would totally understand the temptation, for sure.

And yet- it is so worrying that the whole NHS debacle is not just due to Covid, but a deliberate and totally calculated attempt (and they are succeeding) to destroy the NHS- and create a desire, a need, to switch to Private Insurance - leaving those who cannot afford it, or those with pre-exisiting conditions that will be either excluded, or added at huge cost.
I have been castigated on another thread for saying this- but many top surgeons now work fully for private care (treating 1 instead of 4 or more, as it takes more time for consultations, and more investigations, tests, polite conversation, and more), and a huge proportion work for both NHS and the Private Sector- largely leaving the NHS work to Juniors, and spending much more time and effort on much more lucrative private work (still getting paid by NHS mind).

So it is very worrying. I could totally understand, as per education, that people could be tempted and go across to private insurance, or private schools - not as a true choice, but out of dire necessity- and unbearable pain, etc.