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Are you considering investing in private health care – here is some insight into what to consider.
Sidestep NHS waiting lists and receive treatment quickly
Before the coronavirus struck, the NHS waiting lists for standard operations had improved. Sadly, because of the global pandemic, waiting lists are now much longer than they once were. Furthermore, because many people that have contracted this virus require ongoing support, there is more strain on the service than ever before.
Receive diagnosis and treatment quickly
When you have private health insurance, you’ll be able to avoid lengthy waiting lists and receive treatment right away. Patients with comprehensive cover won’t just receive treatment right away. They will receive a fast diagnosis as well. When you have excellent insurance, you can expect virtually anything to be covered provided that you’ve been referred by a GP.
Request a private hospital room
When you have private medical insurance, you’ll also have access to the UK’s private hospitals. This means you’ll be able to stay in a private room. You’ll be able to focus on your recovery without any distractions. When you’re staying in a private room, it will be easier for you to host visitors. You won’t have to worry about disturbing the other patients.
When you have private health insurance, you can request a private patient unit through an NHS trust or receive care in a private hospital. Alternatively, insurers may offer you an incentive or payment for staying in an NHS hospital.
You can expect to receive exemplary service. You’ll be able to work with an experienced advisor that will help you to select an insurance policy that meets all of your needs. Obviously, looking in the UK is very different to the US and Medicare Advantage Plans 2021.
Decide who treats you
Patients that receive treatment via the NHS generally don’t get to decide on a care provider. However, when you have private insurance, you are free to request the professional that you want to see. If they are available to take on new patients, they can provide treatment to you.
Select where you’d like to be treated
When you’re relying on the NHS for coverage, you have a limited selection when it comes to where or even when you’ll be treated. Instead, you’ll be informed of the location and date of your treatment. You can opt to delay that treatment, but you won’t have many options outside of that.
When you have private insurance, however, you can select where you’d like to receive treatment, as well as the date of your treatment. This will allow you to plan around your schedule and reduce the amount of disruptions to your day-to-day life.
Your drug and treatment access will increase
The NHS does not provide access to all medicines or all types of treatments. This is for a number of reasons. In some cases, NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) has yet to approve treatments. In other cases, the cost is still high. When you have private health insurance, however, you may have access to these treatments, providing that the specialist treating you approves. This means that you’ll have far more options. The drugs and treatments you’ll have access to could even save your life.
When you have private insurance, you won’t necessarily have access to all drugs. However, there will be more treatments available to you.
Virtual service access
It’s becoming more common for healthcare providers to offer virtual services. This allows you to consult with a GP on the phone or schedule a video call. In some cases, these services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Using private insurance alongside NHS coverage
Private insurance isn’t designed to replace the care provided by the NHS. Instead, it’s a complementary service. Not all conditions are covered under private healthcare. For example, if you suffer from an incurable condition, your treatment will be covered by the NHS, but not by private insurance. This applies even if you receive a diagnosis privately.
You’ll need to obtain management and treatment via the NHS. Furthermore, emergency and accident services aren’t offered by private hospitals. You may need to make a trip to the A&E in the case of an emergency. Although children can be included on a private insurance policy, the young are prioritized by the NHS. Because of this, the benefits offered under private cover aren’t always significant.
The drawbacks of health insurance
Health insurance does have some drawbacks. You’ll want to make sure you have a clear picture of the service before deciding how to proceed. These are some of the issues with private cover:
It can be costly
In many cases, the cost of private insurance increases every year. This can make it difficult to afford as you grow older.
Chronic conditions are not covered
Emergency services aren’t covered
The NHS may provide better care overall. Although it’s free, the standard of care is still high.
