Private Health care in the UK?
Aug 20th 2014, 11:08 am
#16
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,004
Re: Private Health care in the UK?
Bud, an interesting Wiki extract.
Private health care has continued parallel to the NHS, paid for largely by private insurance, but it is used by less than 8% of the population, and generally as a top-up to NHS services. There are many treatments that the private sector does not provide. For example, health insurance on pregnancy is generally not covered or covered with restricting clauses. Typical exclusions for Bupa schemes (and many other insurers) include:
ageing, menopause and puberty; AIDS/HIV; allergies or allergic disorders; birth control, conception, sexual problems and sex changes; chronic conditions; complications from excluded or restricted conditions/ treatment; convalescence, rehabilitation and general nursing care ; cosmetic, reconstructive or weight loss treatment; deafness; dental/oral treatment (such as fillings, gum disease, jaw shrinkage, etc); dialysis; drugs and dressings for out-patient or take-home use† ; experimental drugs and treatment; eyesight; HRT and bone densitometry; learning difficulties, behavioural and developmental problems; overseas treatment and repatriation; physical aids and devices; pre-existing or special conditions; pregnancy and childbirth; screening and preventive treatment; sleep problems and disorders; speech disorders; temporary relief of symptoms.[43] († = except in exceptional circumstances)
Health insurance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Private health care has continued parallel to the NHS, paid for largely by private insurance, but it is used by less than 8% of the population, and generally as a top-up to NHS services. There are many treatments that the private sector does not provide. For example, health insurance on pregnancy is generally not covered or covered with restricting clauses. Typical exclusions for Bupa schemes (and many other insurers) include:
ageing, menopause and puberty; AIDS/HIV; allergies or allergic disorders; birth control, conception, sexual problems and sex changes; chronic conditions; complications from excluded or restricted conditions/ treatment; convalescence, rehabilitation and general nursing care ; cosmetic, reconstructive or weight loss treatment; deafness; dental/oral treatment (such as fillings, gum disease, jaw shrinkage, etc); dialysis; drugs and dressings for out-patient or take-home use† ; experimental drugs and treatment; eyesight; HRT and bone densitometry; learning difficulties, behavioural and developmental problems; overseas treatment and repatriation; physical aids and devices; pre-existing or special conditions; pregnancy and childbirth; screening and preventive treatment; sleep problems and disorders; speech disorders; temporary relief of symptoms.[43] († = except in exceptional circumstances)
Health insurance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aug 20th 2014, 11:11 am
#17
Concierge
Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 21,137
Re: Private Health care in the UK?
Not me Dunroving - every birthday I get a year younger 
Yes, that was a strange one and probably not entirely accurate. I'm just trying to give Bud a bit more understanding of the NHS and private insurance - took me ages to get my head around it even a little bit as it's so different from the systems in Oz.
Yes, that was a strange one and probably not entirely accurate. I'm just trying to give Bud a bit more understanding of the NHS and private insurance - took me ages to get my head around it even a little bit as it's so different from the systems in Oz.
Aug 20th 2014, 2:14 pm
#18
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,294
Re: Private Health care in the UK?
I'm sure there are insurers that offer fully comprehensive private health cover for a specific subset of people of people who are unable to access any free NHS health services at all - although I thought that everyone could access A&E? I'd hate to see the cost of such a policy (one that is entirely independent of the NHS, if such an animal exists!)
I know that in Oz that you have to buy insurance for some operations and that because that insurance is costly, many risk not taking out those insurances until later in life, when they have a higher risk of needing those operations. It doesn't work like that with the British NHS, as Brits are covered for *some things, for all of the time that they reside in the UK.
*some operations that use to be free on the NHS, are now not offered for free; hence why you see fund raising activities in local papers, to pay for a child's operation that isn't available on the NHS. Even some dentist treatments aren't covered by the NHS 3 band payments.
Some NHS budgets now can't stretch to everyone, even though that treatment is free on the NHS and that department will decide which group to spend their budget on. This is why all the NHS changes are coming in under the Immigration Act 2014 i.e. ending free A&E; the NHS levy; having to prove we are allowed free NHS/companies having to comply with new HMRC real time PAYE since 2013; easier ways to collect NHS debts, etc
When we weren't insured privately through work, we paid for any private treatment ourselves, if we thought the condition warranted it. I did the same with our dogs, I never bought insurance, but every month I put those insurance premiums into our high interest savings account. My sister in law recently paid privately for her knee operation at an NHS hospital, to avoid waiting for an NHS funded operation.
EDIT Here is a list of private operation costs that I just googled.
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/private-m...ation-cost.htm
Last edited by formula; Aug 20th 2014 at 3:44 pm.
Aug 21st 2014, 8:39 am
#19
Was in Canada, now home.
Joined: Aug 2011
Location: Devon
Posts: 3,388
Re: Private Health care in the UK?
I had private health insurance for a few yrs in the UK but I never made a claim and eventually decided it wasn't worth the premiums.
I have paid privately to see a consultant on a few occasions. The cast is usually quite reasonable.
Typos due to typing this on my iPad.
I have paid privately to see a consultant on a few occasions. The cast is usually quite reasonable.
Typos due to typing this on my iPad.
