Private health care opinions.

NoobCannon said:
Hi all, have the opportunity to add my family to works health care scheme (bupa)

Is relatively cheap as subsidised by company, theres me, mrs and 2 kids

Mrs thinks its a complete waste of money but ive told her that me and the kids will be going onto it regardless of what she has to say about it. Her reasoning for the kids is that “they rush kids thru the nhs anyway”

My dilema is to just put her on it anyway regardless of what she thinks and say “i told you so” if its ever needed or just stick to the plan and have me and kids and thats it.

Total monthly paid by me for whole fam = £86 + tax Just me and kids = £55 + tax

I think to myself 1. Shes insane 2. If i didnt put her on it and something happened how would i explain that one to her parents or friends other family etc just by saying she didnt want to go on it??

The basic gist of the cover is that anything that happens (non emergency) and there is more than a 6 week nhs wait bupa will pay for private care. Plus obviously immediate access to consultants etc etc.

Stuck in a dilemma, so what would gd do!

Edit :- Just to add as this is GD I wont be adding a pic of the mrs before you decide (or after)
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do it. it would be silly not to. the NHS is on its arse and can take months to get stuff done.

I had a bursal cyst removal on my knee. NHS GP said it would take 6 months to get sorted as it was elective surgery..... I used my private and the specialist said it was one of the biggest he had seen and it was not elective and could have been cancerous.
it wasn't but that was not the point. I was seen, had the scan, and the OPP all within 3 weeks.

I spoke with the specialist about NHS queue jumping and he said it wasn't as he had a set number of NHS patients and private. he also said without the private there was no incentive for any specialist to stay in the UK as they could earn far more abroad and were in demand.

he also followed it it with a question .... he asked me how many doctors in need of surgery did I think would join an NHS waiting list?

this was 5 years ago now when the NHS was in a much better state. I am even thinking of getting a private GP now such is the sorry state of ours. it's totally unfair and a postcode lottery. the GPS near my parents house is still really good.
I really wish we didn't need private health care but the sad fact is we do and I don't see things getting better any time soon
 
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dowie said:
Worth pointing out that some insurance policies (this was the case with ones I've had via both Bupa and Axa) require a GP referral first in order to make a claim. Of course, a private referral from a GP is typically far easier to get than a regular NHS reference but if your issue is even getting a GP appointment then that's still potentially and issue with some insurance too, unless you also pay out of pocket for a private GP appointment.
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Don't know about others but my Aviva cover includes unlimited private GP digital appointments so that's covered as well.
 
pay for the private insurance. the wait list for non emergency/elective stuff is horrendous, even for kids/paediatrics stuff
the nhs is now only good (and this is even debatable) for emergency care

(declaration of interest: nhs intensive care doctor)
 
Do it OP, hopefully you won't need it but at that price for your whole family, for the peace of mind you get and the service you'll receive compared to the NHS should you ever need it, it's a no brainer imo.
 
10 years ago in my 30's, i'd have said don't bother but seeing how fast things seem to go wrong as I age, i'd say absolutely take it. Also with the frustration of trying to get through GP gatekeepers for actual specialist treatments has changed my attitude completely.

I have Axa via my wifes job, pre-existing conditions all covered, no excesses, already had over £2k of specialist/MRI/physio this year. I'm still awaiting an NHS referral from late 2021 for the issue I was told would go away in 6 weeks with naproxen multiple times per day, chased many times.
 
montymint said:
It's 100% worth it IMO, just for access to a private doctor (by phone at least) on the same day.

If I want to use my local NHS, I'm lucky to even get an appointment unless I'm fighting at 8:30am for one.
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Ours local one like many now don't even do appointments.

Agree. The private gp through health insurance app is pretty nice - wife booked an appt at 9pm for 11pm the same night, had prescription ready to go in the morning. The downside is you have to pay the full price for the subscription not just the NHS contribution.

But you can probably get just private gp a lot cheaper than paying for health insurance.
 
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Maccy said:
@EvilRob doesn't private health insurance offer any contribution towards prescriptions?
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Mine offers payment for the prescriptions also it seems up to an amount (£250)

9 times out if ten however even with the nhs its cheaper to buy an off the shelf version. The pharmacist usually recommends an alternative.
 
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My father had the oppertunity back in teh day to get Bupa full cover for very very very cheap and didn't take it, biggest regret of his ( now retired and failing age) life.
Take it without question.
 
The insurer will want a telephone consultation with your other half about medical history so might be tricky to add her on the down low.

Would seem like a sensible thing to do to add the whole family.
 
Foghorn Leghorn said:
Easy solution, put her on it then beat her up.

Whilst she's recovering in her own private room "see, told you it was worth it."
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Pay me to beat her up. Then leave private healthcare brochures on her lap while she's in the NHS waiting room.
I'm cheaper than private healthcare, so you'd save some money for the initial 6-9 months of her waiting time, and you'd have plausible deniability because I'm doing the dirty deed.
 
ttaskmaster said:
Pay me to beat her up. Then leave private healthcare brochures on her lap while she's in the NHS waiting room.
I'm cheaper than private healthcare, so you'd save some money for the initial 6-9 months of her waiting time, and you'd have plausible deniability because I'm doing the dirty deed.
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