Do you have health insurance?

I have health cover through work.

Never user it though ... came close once when I was having issues with my leg and needed physio but found the company at the time to be very unhelpful and all they would offer me would have actually cost me more in taxi's to get to and from their hospital than it did to sort out private physio myself separate from them.
 
pitchfork said:
I have it at work for free.

Out of principal I don't use it, Tories just want to force the NHS into disarray so people use private healthcare then tell us the NHS isn't working and people prefer private healthcare.

Then when I'm 50 and priced out of private healthcare and the government has privatised the NHS I have to lay down and die, I refuse to play ball.
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So if (God forbid) you had a very serious illness, and had the chance for immediate treatment in better facilities through your health insurance, or had to wait for a few weeks in pain/uncomfortable conditions, you still wouldn't use it?

don't get me wrong, I love the NHS and think it's amazing (although plagued with issues at the moment) - but if anything going through private healthcare would take some of the load off the NHS anyway!

I don't think people prefer private, if you're not lucky enough to afford it or get it through work most people would be quite happy with the NHS - I know I would be (fortunately I've never had so much as a cold).

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, you have private healthcare, use it if you need to. It seems daft to hamper your wellbeing because of a principle.
 
A group of people it is good for is small business owners,

I know a builder who is interested in it primarily because if he has to wait 2-6 months for an operation, his business might not be there when he is well again. Not to mention being a builder he has an above average risk of injury which might put him in that spot.

Its definitely not necessary for most people (more of luxury). For some though it is insuring their livelihood more than their health.
 
Not currently, It is something I've looked into but not sure if I can justify paying all that money into one.
 
Freefaller said:
So if (God forbid) you had a very serious illness, and had the chance for immediate treatment in better facilities through your health insurance, or had to wait for a few weeks in pain/uncomfortable conditions, you still wouldn't use it?

don't get me wrong, I love the NHS and think it's amazing (although plagued with issues at the moment) - but if anything going through private healthcare would take some of the load off the NHS anyway!

I don't think people prefer private, if you're not lucky enough to afford it or get it through work most people would be quite happy with the NHS - I know I would be (fortunately I've never had so much as a cold).

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, you have private healthcare, use it if you need to. It seems daft to hamper your wellbeing because of a principle.
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Eh, my life isn't so important, I'd rather make a point than fold to be comfortable even if the only person who gives a damn is me.
 
dirtychinchilla said:
Of course it doesn't make people less ill; that's just the point at all. What it does mean is that you get a quicker and more efficient service, which can be just what you need.
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But that's my point, it's not more "efficient" there just have less people to deal with because they are only treating people who can afford to use them. If anything it's less efficient if everyone gets their own room, doctor etc.

But if everyone if the country signed up to private health care then you'd lose all those 'perks' like speed of service and the NHS would become the quicker system.

I don't blame people for being selfish when it come to their health, I'm just making the point that private health care creates a system where one’s health is linked purely to their financial circumstances rather than their medical need which isn’t a concept that sits well with me.
 
pitchfork said:
Eh, my life isn't so important, I'd rather make a point than fold to be comfortable even if the only person who gives a damn is me.
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Wow. Well kudos to you for sticking to your principles... but I must say that's somewhat extreme.

As I said, I wish you nothing but good health and hope you never have to test your resolve.
 
Get it through work, seems decent. £100 excess but rest is paid for by company (bar BIK tax). Seems to be fairly comprehensive and covers nearly everything. Would certainly consider it for anything I wanted to get checked out that wasn't a straight to A&E job.
 
estebanrey said:
Well it's not really "free" is it, unless you pay no taxes. Paying National Insurance is essentially no different to paying medical insurance really other than the fact it's not optional.
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The NHS is not funded out of NI; NI is simply lumped in with other taxes.

And, yes, it's not free; it's free at the point of use. But since you pay taxes regardless of whether you have private insurance or not the cost to you is fixed.
 
I also have it through work (PruHealth) and it's been brilliant for me and the family.

- Had both Son and Wife diagnosed with Crohns and got to see top specialist with no wait, and treatment was covered until the condition was fully diagnosed and stabilised on medication. They don't cover regular regular monitoring as it is a chronic condition, but they do cover up to 2 future 'flare ups' if necessary.

- Other son had tonsils out.

- Daughter had MRI after a fall/bang to the head, another MRI for a lump on her hand, podiatry assessment for 'collapsed instep'.

- Wife had ultrasounds + MRI for various things + varicose veins surgery.

- Both me and the mrs have had knee surgery (both knees for me :( ).

Writing it all down makes us sound like the unhealthiest family ever :o however it is a family of five over a period of around 15 years.

If I was to add up all the costs based on the bills/statements I have seen it must come to at least £30-40k over that period.

*edit* and for those who say that the NHS is best - I've got a friend who need a simple knee operation similar to the ones I had. I got mine done in about 2 weeks - he in in constant pain and has been battling to get the operation for over a year and is basically being told by the NHS to wait until he is 50 (he's 47...) as he is 'too young' to need it!
 
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Whenever I've needed to use it, the NHS has been quite efficient for me. Appointments available in the evenings, good diagnosis and options when it comes to treatment. Admittedly I don't have anything to compare it to, but I can't say private healthcare is someone I've ever felt I've needed so far in life.
 
Have BUPA through work and have used it a couple of times (once for a full op) and from my experience their service was fantastic.

Also recently seeing a close family member struggle to obtain timely help on the NHS for a very serious condition I think anyone that has the option to have private health care should take it.
 
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