Private health - what are my options?

Generally a faster operation I went to Harley street clinic to get my heart ablation done, doctor was the same who did Tony Blair's btw :p

You get seen to a lot quicker obviously as you are paying a fair wack for the operation..I was on the waiting list to get seen to by Papworth hospital but the wait was ages..

I think it depends on how urgent the operation is to be honest if you want to look at prices and urgency? :)
 
Seeing a private doctor was so much better for me, the medication was much cheaper because there was no NHS markup on it, and there was so much more choice as to the medications available for my condition, none of the "this isn't approved in the UK" bs that I heard so often from the NHS doctors. Appointments were much faster and there was much more treatment flexibility overall than the NHS. However I didn't go through a health insurance company I paid upfront.
 
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I get it through my work (AXA PPP provide the insurance). I can be seen at pretty much any private hospital in the UK, as long as the specialist is recognised by AXA PPP (they all are in my experience).

I think the cost, were I to do it myself, would be ~£900 a year. However I've heard various horror stories of claims being rejected for individuals, whereas through a company scheme (with some 3000 members in the UK using AXA) they simply approve every claim.

I've had about £5000 of treatment in the past 12 months, as an example of what is available, including getting priority (next day ultrasound) at an NHS hospital.

Can't recommend it enough.
 
Energize said:
Seeing a private doctor was so much better for me, the medication was much cheaper because there was no NHS markup on it, which is in the region of 1000% for some of my medications and there was so much more choice as to the medications available for my condition, none of the "this isn't approved in the UK" bs that I heard so often from the uneducated NHS GP's. Appointments were much faster and there was much more treatment flexibility overall than the NHS. However I didn't go through a health insurance company I paid upfront.
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NHS markup? Medications are charged at a flat rate of £5 per item no?
 
Energize said:
£7.20, which is approximately 1000% of what the medication costs privately for me.
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What the hell is your medication? Please don't tell me it's something as mundane as Ibuprofen or Paracetamol?

Edit: Oh - how do you get diazepam without a prescription then?
 
Your GP can issue private scripts btw ;)

Though I think it's a bit rich for most people to complain that drug x is cheaper than £7.20. Doubt those same people would be clamouring to pay the actual cost of all meds they need over a lifetime
 
Youstolemyname said:
private health insurance is all well and good but if you need immediate medical attention, e.g. A&E/Ambulance... it is always going to be NHS.
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And private health care can't offer you the really specialised stuff. Yes they have a great number of certain types of doctors there but that's it they under-staff other specialities and do not attract talent. People see a famous consultant and think they are getting a good deal when in fact they consultant never really does much anyway as the leg work is done by the junior grades and that is where you have to ask: is the quality there.

Also there are some specialities that refuse to do private work, well the good ones you want to see, so its not so cut and dry. I can tell you of a very famous hospital where you would most certainly never want a member of your family to be in the private section at all.

Private is great for jumping the queue to see the consultant - after that in my opinion stay with NHS you would not believe how much clearing up mistakes from the private sector we have to do. And not all of them can be cleared up ...
 
I'm in two minds over private health care. I was diagnosed with arthritis a few years ago and spent some time in hospital.
After a bit of 'ohing-and-ahing' it was eventually diagnosed and they began treatment. Went to a private doctor for a second opinion and peace of mind, as I didn't think I was receiving the best treatment I could. There and then he sorted me out with a big shot of steroids which totally cleared up my knee joint.

Don't know if it was coincidental, but it definitely helped and only cost £120 or so for that consultation & one jab.

Currently receiving the rest of my treatment on the NHS though as I don't really see the point in paying the price for essentially nothing. I pay £15 every 3 months for a certificate which gives me free medicines. Saying I'm on 5 different ones every month I didn't want to spend £75 every three months but £15 is fine for me!

As said, if anything goes wrong in private health care then you are carted off to the NHS anyway as they aren't able to offer intensive care and what not. Getting seen quickly for a second opinion is about the only benefit I can see - my NHS doctor is the leading expert on my condition which is great in itself.
 
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