BUPA vs. Aviva vs. Pru etc.

[MoRT489]

Have heard good things about BUPA since needing to use consultants a lot this year, unfortunately our company isnt with them tho

 

[gjrc]

Just remember.....

It's usually the same NHS guy that does the slicing and dicing - so if they are bad at your local hospital (or have a reputation for maybe not doing a good repair job) - they aren't going to be much better at your local Private Health hotel

true but you can choose where you want it done. so if you don't like your local guy you can go see someone else. at least you can on our cover...

 

[Energize]

It's usually the same NHS guy that does the slicing and dicing - so if they are bad at your local hospital (or have a reputation for maybe not doing a good repair job) - they aren't going to be much better at your local Private Health hotel

Completely depends, I go to a private psychiatric hospital where private doctors work there 24/7, there's no NHS doctors there and best of all no NHS restrictions on treatment options so I get the best medication available.

 

[Mr Jack]

I'm considering private health insurance, but does anyone have any advice on how to decide which company to go for?

I would advise that you don't. My experience is that the NHS gives considerably better care than private alternatives; the nurses won't be as pretty, the hospital as shiny and airy, and you may wait a little longer to see someone - but when you do you will get a better standard of actual care. I consider that more important.

 

[Energize]

I would advise that you don't. My experience is that the NHS gives considerably better care than private alternatives; the nurses won't be as pretty, the hospital as shiny and airy, and you may wait a little longer to see someone - but when you do you will get a better standard of actual care. I consider that more important.

Mine was the exact opposite, 1st line medications were simply not available on the NHS leaving me no other option than to go private.

 

[JAzz]

I would advise that you don't. My experience is that the NHS gives considerably better care than private alternatives; the nurses won't be as pretty, the hospital as shiny and airy, and you may wait a little longer to see someone - but when you do you will get a better standard of actual care. I consider that more important.

Don't agree with that at all. I had nasal polyps and had to wait 2 or 3 months to even get an appointment with the NHS, after the appointment was told that they were much better and gave me a weaker spray. Not being convinced as my nose was feeling blocked all the time went private, he showed me the inside of my nose and how bad it was. I decided for 4 weeks to take some stronger medicine and then decided I just wanted to be operated on, within 2 or 3 weeks I had a scan done and was operated on. Stayed in a lovely room with my own TV and space and much prefer that to being in a shared ward with loads of other people around. Straight away could feel just how much more clear my nose was and since then have really had a much better quality of life even. The winter months were hard, having a blocked & runny nose near enough every day is not a nice experience. Under the NHS I would have had to wait a good few more months for another checkup and who knows if that guy would have even said I was ready for the op.

 

[Heliospherez]

I would advise that you don't. My experience is that the NHS gives considerably better care than private alternatives; the nurses won't be as pretty, the hospital as shiny and airy, and you may wait a little longer to see someone - but when you do you will get a better standard of actual care. I consider that more important.

Is this a joke ? If not, would you mind telling us what area you live in and what Private care you had the problem with. I've worked with thousands of people in different jobs. All the places had private medical care - and hundreds of emplyees used different parts of the private healthcare we use (from physio, general and even dentistry). Not once did I hear of anyone saying their NHS experience offered a "better standard of care" - (in fact it was the total opposite)

The last thing I would want after an operation is being stuck with 6 other recovering sick people from all walks of my local cities life - watching Gardeners World on a 14" TV at the end of a stinking ward. That would be enough to kill me off.

 

[MoRT489]

I would advise that you don't. My experience is that the NHS gives considerably better care than private alternatives; the nurses won't be as pretty, the hospital as shiny and airy, and you may wait a little longer to see someone - but when you do you will get a better standard of actual care. I consider that more important.

Couldnt disagree more after having experienced both. Also bear in mind ur gambling every time u go into any hospital as MRSA kills over 5,000 people per year, ridiculous when u consider it could be avoided by simple hygiene! So always do a little research before u pick a hospital for treatment - Care Quality Commission http://www.cqc.org.uk.

 

[Raymond Lin]

I would advise that you don't. My experience is that the NHS gives considerably better care than private alternatives; the nurses won't be as pretty, the hospital as shiny and airy, and you may wait a little longer to see someone - but when you do you will get a better standard of actual care. I consider that more important.

Money talks. So I can't believe a single part of the above.

Besides, what you are saying is that in NHS you get:-

1 - Ugly fat overweight nurses
2 - Dirty stuffy Hospitals giving patients MRSA for breakfast
3 - You wait and wait until that ulcer becomes so serious you are crapping blood before you get treated.

By that time, you'll be in the A&E and will get to the first in the queue because of the infection. You'll then be in Intensive Care, hence better standard of care.

Right?

I say again, this is the real world. NHS is FANTASTIC and I endorse it too, but Money Talks.

 

[Indy500]

Money talks. So I can't believe a single part of the above.

Besides, what you are saying is that in NHS you get:<snip>

Well, given that the majority pays little or nothing into it due to the way taxes work...they're freeloading. No wonder it's ****. Not that I agree with the ludicrous concept of "universal" healthcare, which is an oxymoron. It's only universal if everyone's forced into it authoritarian style, and we have a doctor on every street corner.

Now back on topic, OP I would probably not suggest BUPA based on what their own staff told me as a trial employee. The message I got effectively is they do not aim to provide a full plan, so unless you want selective coverage steer clear.

 

[Jimbo Mahoney]

Totally agree with Raymond.

I'm not interested in going private to get into different hospitals and I'm aware that in most cases, it's the same hospital, same staff.

It's all about being given priority.

Yes, it's sad that those with the means to pay get seen sooner, as it *should* be fair for all. But the world isn't fair, and you could argue that those with the means to pay contribute to the running costs of the free services. (Yes, you could also argue that it simply goes straight into surgeons pockets / insurance companies' pockets too...)

Thanks for the feedback. BUPA is sounding quite good.

For those interested, I've got a variety of quotes from a variety of providers and for me (young, single, healthy) they come in between £20 a month and £60+ per month depending on the level of cover.

 

[Cold_And_Miserable]

The NHS is next to useless for most mental health problems, unless you have schizophrenia, but then you're screwed anyway.
For things like agoraphobia/avoidant personality disorder I keep reading private treatment is unavoidable. Hence I'm still living like a recluse.

 

[Dr House]

A year I hope?

Yep, I pay around 1.2k per year for an Bupa international policy.

Massive waste of money, especially if you have a pre-existing condition.
Remember, if anything goes wrong the first thing that they'll do is phone 999 and get you carted off to A&E.
The only benefit I can see is a more comfortable surrounding when you're recovering, but I didn't really mind the ward I was in the other year. Though I did have my friends bring me in proper dinners.

You really could not be more wrong.

 

[Indy500]

For things like agoraphobia/avoidant personality disorder I keep reading private treatment is unavoidable. Hence I'm still living like a recluse.

How do you know that there's anything physiologically wrong then? You had a consultation with an experienced individual on the subject? Some people are recluses by habit or because of a past traumatic event, bullying etc. Body chemistry would not be the first thing on my list if I was asking you questions.

 

[Energize]

The NHS is next to useless for most mental health problems, unless you have schizophrenia, but then you're screwed anyway.
For things like agoraphobia/avoidant personality disorder I keep reading private treatment is unavoidable. Hence I'm still living like a recluse.

This is true, first line medications are unavailable on the NHS, all they have are SSRI's which have severe side effects and result in high discontinuation rates compared to other drugs like tianeptine which has side effects comparable to placebo.

How do you know that there's anything physiologically wrong then? You had a consultation with an experienced individual on the subject? Some people are recluses by habit or because of a past traumatic event, bullying etc. Body chemistry would not be the first thing on my list if I was asking you questions.

It's not about bodychemistry it's about neurology, our behaviour and any trauma we experience stems from the neurological structure of our brain, neurology and psychology are inextricably linked, if there is a psychological problem, there is a corresponding neruological problem.

EDIT - The priory offer regular sessions with a consultant psychiatrist from as little as £90. The medication is cheaper than on the NHS too!

 

[Westyfield2]

I've been with both BUPA and Pru. BUPA are soo much better than Pru!

 

[Nexus]

Going Private is more than just that though, obviously it is the same guy but he will be able to give a much more thorough check up and most importantly you have to wait a hell of a lot less before you get scans/treatment done.

Yes, not to mention you often get a higher qualified Doctor.

Say for example, last year I spent time in Hospital with an appendicitis. I was overseen by a Senior Consultant who then had a Senior Doctor under him, then a load of Juniors, who were mostly taking care of my treatment. I didn't have my appendix removed until two months later, but because I had private health care, I did so in a private hospital. As a result, rather than having a Junior Doctor do it on the NHS, I had him, the Senior Consultant perform the operation.

Sure, there is likely no issue with a Junior doctor, but one of the benefits of Private is that you do get highly qualified Senior Consultants.


Another thing when weighing up policies might be to check what Hospitals they use. Obviously some companies like Bupa have preferred ones. The last thing you would want is an extended stay in a hospital that is nowhere near home.

 

[Indy500]

It's not about bodychemistry it's about neurology, our behaviour and any trauma we experience stems from the neurological structure of our brain, neurology and psychology are inextricably linked, if there is a psychological problem, there is a corresponding neruological problem.

Neurotransmitters are chemical in nature while we're being pedantic

Anyway, everyone has a different response to events so there's no one solution.

 

[Energize]

Anyway, everyone has a different response to events so there's no one solution.

Of course not, everbody responds to pharmacotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy differently, but there is a neurological reason for any individuals state of being and no doctor how well qualified is able to determine what this is with current medical knowledge. The fact the drugs have such a profound affect on emotional response only gives more evidence to this.