UkWinds5353

I have a question I want to ask about major medical coverage because I would like to gain a better understanding of what might not be covered in the National Health Care System in the UK. And if buying private health care insurance could be a smart decision just in case something (God Forbid) were to happen.Some friends of mine were having a conversation about medical coverage in America versus the UK and other major western countries like Germany, France and Spain. The conversation went to, what if a person needed Immune therapy to fight cancer which is very expensive in the States. Treatments can cost upwards of $30K-$50K per month. And I do know some of those drugs are less expensive in Europe because the governments have forced some pharma companies to lower their prices.

Is Immune Therapy covered in the National Health Care System or would a person need to have private health insurance?

SanDiegogirl

The therapy is still under consideration, but the following article says that it has been approved in England, but that, at the moment, only a small select band of patients are likely to receive it - mainly due to its costs....

https://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk...the-nhs-ready/

I doubt whether any private health insurance company is going to include this treatment - again due to costs. But you should ask the question of any private health insurer you are considering

UkWinds5353

Thank you for your very thoughtful reply. No one plans to be ill but in life there are so many uncertain things that can happen, and everyone is going to get either old or sick at some point. And for that reason it's wise to try to ask questions and attempt to put in place safe guards just in case. Based on general information Immune Therapy does help with certain kinds of cancer but it's so expensive. And being illegible for it's use comes down to if your insurance will cover it, or if you have the financial means to pay out of pocket. Sadly your insurance will only pay depending on the strengthen of your HMO. A weak group plan will not pay for a treatment that cost $15K per month for several years even if that treatment gives that person more quality years of life.. And that in it self is quite disturbing. No one should be given a thumbs up or down for life saving health care based on financial cost. And I was just wondering if some of the major countries in Europe covered these expensive life saving treatments.

spouse of scouse

Happens all over the world unfortunately, as evidenced by the number of children in developing countries that die due to basic health care such as antibiotics or a vaccine being beyond their parents' means.

durham_lad

UkWinds5353

I very much agree with you. That is the reason why I do support many forms of socialize healthcare because at the end of the day no one's health should be used as a means for companies to profit. In America the healthcare system is all about profit. Our system in the States is very high quality, and maybe the highest in the world but some of the treatments with various drugs and care in general is only affordable to those that have wealth, and in my opinion that is shameful. I applaud western Europe for officially saying for years healthcare is a right, and not a luxury regardless of a person's financial status.

I wonder what country in Europe has the highest standard of healthcare? I've heard France mentioned as the best but I'm not sure.

PrairieWriter

spouse of scouse

An excellent post, Prairie Writer

cyrian

In the UK the nephew of a friend developed a liver infection which ended in liver failure.
A few weeks ago he had a liver transplant but the transplant failed and the 35 year old was left with the prospect of imminent death.
Within a few days another liver was found and he received a 2nd liver transplant.
He is not out of the woods yet but so far so good with the latest liver.
He had 5 operations in a week - hours of complex surgery - and he will have lifelong post transplant care.
The cost was shared by all the citizens and foreign workers who work here and contribute to the system.
I wonder what the cost would have been in the USA?

UkWinds5353

It's very sad to say this but the truth is, that same patient if he were in the States without health insurance would probably not have qualified for all those surgeries. In the States the medical establishment fights extremely hard for you as long as the powers that be are making money off of your health care. And the government don't believe you have a right to healthcare once that care cost has become seven and eight figures. Having money can determine how long you live in most of the world and especially major medical situations in America.

UkWinds5353

Our healthcare system in the States is excellent but I agree with you on who has access to care in America. That is the reason why America has such a shamefully poor record in the infant mortality rate. The healthcare is there but the money and desire to help the poor is not So many conservatives in America want to force a pregnant woman to have a unwanted child but will not lift a finger to help with financial assistance to care for that mother or child. If you are middle-classed or poor in America you can go bankrupt if you, or a family member were to get sick and that should never be the case in a extremely wealthy country. Once your health insurance decides to stop paying for your care your chances to live drastically decrease. Great countries don't do that!

UkWinds5353

I have another health care question.

Would hospice care be fully covered in the UK without needing to jump through a bunch of red tape prior to beginning that care? Or would the UK government make that patient show months of financial records and look at what assets they might have?

I can see if a person needed long term care and the government then wanted to recoup cost from a long stay. But would a short term stay be handled the same way?

I've read some things in the States that is alarming about our care for people that need short term hospice.

BritInParis

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/end-of.../hospice-care/

UkWinds5353

Thank you friend for posting that link.

I didn't see a cost chart for hospice care so not sure if the state comes in and ask for money for the care if you are in the national healthcare system or if there is no extra cost for hospice.

In the States we are so use to seeing bills up front that we become conditioned to looking at the fine print.

I learned today about the cost for hospice care in America that was very concerning and it made me want to see if things were handled differently in the UK.

christmasoompa

On the first page -

"Hospice care is free, paid for through a combination of NHS funding and public donation"

HTH.