Medical insurance in the UK?
- Thread starter Rachel97
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Two important considerations: 1. they don't generally cover pre-existing conditions, and 2. they don't generally cover chronic conditions.
I have health insurance through work, but it didn't start until April this year and by then I'd already had 6 months+ of waiting for the dear old NHS to get on with things. Then I was told I'd need surgery and I assumed I wouldn't be covered because of 1, but it turned out my employer had paid extra for the "medical history disregarded" option.
And it also turned out that even though Crohns is chronic, the fact the surgery is intended to correct a condition meant it counts as accute and was covered.
So I had the surgery done privately. But it was with the same surgeon, in an NHS hospital with NHS doctors and nurses and NHS drugs, and NHS food :thumbdown:, but I did get a private room. And I don't think it was done any quicker either as my case was urgent enough I was assured it would be "soon" and wouldn't be the nightmare of being put on an 18month NHS waiting list.
But I'm still seeing the GI consultant on the NHS as that won't be covered, and neither would future tests.
If in future I lose the work coverage I probably would continue paying for it myself. Your health is more important than money at the end of the day, but obviously that's up to you and the NHS will generally keep you alive for free. What you're paying for is not having to wait months and months to see the same doctor, and getting a nicer room if you do end up needing to go to hospital. In theory the treatment is the same.
I suggest you phone up and have a long chat with them and be clear on exactly what you're going to get and not get before you pay for anything.
I have health insurance through work, but it didn't start until April this year and by then I'd already had 6 months+ of waiting for the dear old NHS to get on with things. Then I was told I'd need surgery and I assumed I wouldn't be covered because of 1, but it turned out my employer had paid extra for the "medical history disregarded" option.
And it also turned out that even though Crohns is chronic, the fact the surgery is intended to correct a condition meant it counts as accute and was covered.
So I had the surgery done privately. But it was with the same surgeon, in an NHS hospital with NHS doctors and nurses and NHS drugs, and NHS food :thumbdown:, but I did get a private room. And I don't think it was done any quicker either as my case was urgent enough I was assured it would be "soon" and wouldn't be the nightmare of being put on an 18month NHS waiting list.
But I'm still seeing the GI consultant on the NHS as that won't be covered, and neither would future tests.
If in future I lose the work coverage I probably would continue paying for it myself. Your health is more important than money at the end of the day, but obviously that's up to you and the NHS will generally keep you alive for free. What you're paying for is not having to wait months and months to see the same doctor, and getting a nicer room if you do end up needing to go to hospital. In theory the treatment is the same.
I suggest you phone up and have a long chat with them and be clear on exactly what you're going to get and not get before you pay for anything.
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- Sep 14, 2013
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It's always worth having private medical insurance because if you get another condition entirely unrelated to crohn's, you could get it ten times worse than most people because of the crohn's, if that makes sense.
I have private medical and I am glad I have, I would have died last year without it when I was initially diagnosed because it was a four week wait for a colonoscopy/endoscopy on the NHS. I was so thin and wasn't eating anything and would not have survived four weeks. Plus I ended up in an awesome hospital with a really nice nurse. And I have the best consultant EVER.
My insurance cover has changed though - I am still covered for my consultant appointments because they are technically 'follow up' appointments from the initial diagnosis tests (or so he tells me), but the insurance company won't cover me for anything else crohns-related unless it's an emergency procedure. Cover for all other things not-crohn's related is not affected. Phone them and have a chat with them. It's worth it for the peace of mind it brings you. And I recommend Bupa. They may be at the pricier end of the scale but the amount of cover you get is excellent.
I have private medical and I am glad I have, I would have died last year without it when I was initially diagnosed because it was a four week wait for a colonoscopy/endoscopy on the NHS. I was so thin and wasn't eating anything and would not have survived four weeks. Plus I ended up in an awesome hospital with a really nice nurse. And I have the best consultant EVER.
My insurance cover has changed though - I am still covered for my consultant appointments because they are technically 'follow up' appointments from the initial diagnosis tests (or so he tells me), but the insurance company won't cover me for anything else crohns-related unless it's an emergency procedure. Cover for all other things not-crohn's related is not affected. Phone them and have a chat with them. It's worth it for the peace of mind it brings you. And I recommend Bupa. They may be at the pricier end of the scale but the amount of cover you get is excellent.
I personally wouldn't bother with private cover.
As said above they wouldn't cover you for chronic/known conditions which would probably make up the bulk of your needs. But hey if you have the extra cash then no harm in having that private luxury just in case.
I find with a lot of private practice these days you get the same consultants, same equipment and the same facilities as NHS patients. Yes you may get seen quicker/ have a nicer room but ultimately you still get a fantastic quality of care from the NHS.
I do understand that different people have different experiences but I have had no issues so far with not only my Crohns issues but any other medical problems I have encountered. My local hospital is very good and efficient with many doctors being top in their field.
Make sure you are happy with the doctor you are under if you want to see particular doctors that you feel may offer better quality of care then it may be worth going private but you can also just ask to be re referred to that doctor.
I would recommended always getting good travel health insurance!! They will usually cover your chronic condition for not too much extra and it's good to have that peace of mind when you go travelling.
As said above they wouldn't cover you for chronic/known conditions which would probably make up the bulk of your needs. But hey if you have the extra cash then no harm in having that private luxury just in case.
I find with a lot of private practice these days you get the same consultants, same equipment and the same facilities as NHS patients. Yes you may get seen quicker/ have a nicer room but ultimately you still get a fantastic quality of care from the NHS.
I do understand that different people have different experiences but I have had no issues so far with not only my Crohns issues but any other medical problems I have encountered. My local hospital is very good and efficient with many doctors being top in their field.
Make sure you are happy with the doctor you are under if you want to see particular doctors that you feel may offer better quality of care then it may be worth going private but you can also just ask to be re referred to that doctor.
I would recommended always getting good travel health insurance!! They will usually cover your chronic condition for not too much extra and it's good to have that peace of mind when you go travelling.
We had private medical insurance for many years as a perk of my husbands job. When he retired we stopped it, that was ten years ago.
I have to say the NHS have been brilliant since then, I doubt we would have got any better or quicker treatment privately.
The NHS have guidelines they have to follow in terms of waiting times for tests, and treatment protocols. With something like crohns and other chronic conditions the NHS doesn't hang about, same with cancer.
Personally I wouldn't bother with private medical cover but as someone else has said, if you have loads of money to spare then why not, it's your choice
Incidentally, I had both hips replaced privately thirteen years ago and I now see the same surgeon every year for my check up, just in a different hospital.
Bunty x
I have to say the NHS have been brilliant since then, I doubt we would have got any better or quicker treatment privately.
The NHS have guidelines they have to follow in terms of waiting times for tests, and treatment protocols. With something like crohns and other chronic conditions the NHS doesn't hang about, same with cancer.
Personally I wouldn't bother with private medical cover but as someone else has said, if you have loads of money to spare then why not, it's your choice
Incidentally, I had both hips replaced privately thirteen years ago and I now see the same surgeon every year for my check up, just in a different hospital.
Bunty x
They took about 9 months to do a colonoscopy and CT scan to diagnose me, most of which was just waiting months to see the GI again. 9 months where I was becoming increasingly ill, thin, anemic and generally miserable. And that was after initially being referred as a possible cancer case.
I don't know, but maybe it would have all been done within the first couple of weeks if I'd been private. I see no reason why not. But everybody just accepts this about the NHS.
I'm really sorry about the wait you had, it must have been very frustrating, however my experience is completely different..
I saw my GP on the Monday and we discussed colon cancer. They called the hospital from the surgery while i was there and I saw the colorectal consultant the following day. He requested a colonoscopy, which I had two weeks later. I came away from the hospital with a paper copy of the report and saw my GP again the next day. My GP had an electronic copy of the report and started me on pentasa immediately. I saw her again a week later and was started on prednisolone the following day after she spoke to the specialist nurse (the nurse also rang me at home to give me advice and support).
As far as I am aware, the NICE guidelines are that you have to be seen by a consultant within two weeks if there is a possibility of cancer, and the colonoscopy should be done within four weeks of being requested by the consultant.
Your experience sounds very disappointing but as you can see, my experience has been very different. Perhaps it's down to a postcode lottery.
Bunty x
I saw my GP on the Monday and we discussed colon cancer. They called the hospital from the surgery while i was there and I saw the colorectal consultant the following day. He requested a colonoscopy, which I had two weeks later. I came away from the hospital with a paper copy of the report and saw my GP again the next day. My GP had an electronic copy of the report and started me on pentasa immediately. I saw her again a week later and was started on prednisolone the following day after she spoke to the specialist nurse (the nurse also rang me at home to give me advice and support).
As far as I am aware, the NICE guidelines are that you have to be seen by a consultant within two weeks if there is a possibility of cancer, and the colonoscopy should be done within four weeks of being requested by the consultant.
Your experience sounds very disappointing but as you can see, my experience has been very different. Perhaps it's down to a postcode lottery.
Bunty x
Hi Rachel
I was diagnosed privately but then transferred my care to the NHS in Newcastle Upon Tyne. I am seen at the Freeman by Dr. Nick Thompson and a great IBD nurse Elaine Stoker.
What I would recommend is do your research, be clear on what the medics are advising you to do and build a good relationship with them as it really helps, especially when you need to access services quickly. My GP has been great - she has a good understanding of how Crohns can affect all of you, not just your guts!
Hope this helps and there are some good people and services in Newcastle - just make sure that you ask for them if they are not offered.
Take care
Carol
I was diagnosed privately but then transferred my care to the NHS in Newcastle Upon Tyne. I am seen at the Freeman by Dr. Nick Thompson and a great IBD nurse Elaine Stoker.
What I would recommend is do your research, be clear on what the medics are advising you to do and build a good relationship with them as it really helps, especially when you need to access services quickly. My GP has been great - she has a good understanding of how Crohns can affect all of you, not just your guts!
Hope this helps and there are some good people and services in Newcastle - just make sure that you ask for them if they are not offered.
Take care
Carol
DEmberton I'm sorry you had such trouble getting a diagnosis.
Like Bunty my experience was the complete opposite to yours. From the date of my first GP appointment I saw A GI consultant within two weeks and had all the scopes done in the following month or so. I was seen straight after my colonoscopy by the consultant where he gave me the diagnosis. I then was referred and seen by his colleague 3 days later and started on steroids and azathioprine.
The whole process was incredibly efficient and I was very impressed.
It's awful you had to wait so long. It seems bizAre that you had to
Wait so long esp if you were a suspected cancer case, they have a strict 2 weeks referral for that.
Like Bunty my experience was the complete opposite to yours. From the date of my first GP appointment I saw A GI consultant within two weeks and had all the scopes done in the following month or so. I was seen straight after my colonoscopy by the consultant where he gave me the diagnosis. I then was referred and seen by his colleague 3 days later and started on steroids and azathioprine.
The whole process was incredibly efficient and I was very impressed.
It's awful you had to wait so long. It seems bizAre that you had to
Wait so long esp if you were a suspected cancer case, they have a strict 2 weeks referral for that.
When I was referred I did actually see the GI and have an ultrasound within about 4 days, so that was good. And the colonoscopy was meant to be 6 weeks, but I got lucky with a cancellation and had it after two. It was after that everything slowed down.
The worse thing was I found out from the copies of correspondence I received they'd discussed my case at a meeting in April and decided it was clearly Crohn's and that I'd need surgery, but nobody thought to either tell me or arrange the surgery. So it was only at my follow up appointment 2 months later that I found out, and the ball started rolling. By that stage I'd decided I was going to pay for private treatment thereafter even if it was out of my own pocket (my family were also offering to pay for me, not that I would have taken them up on the offer).
Postcode lottery as has been said. My mother (who lives in a completely different postcode) unfortunately has Motor Neurone Disease. She saw an NHS Neurologist several times, who kept refusing to take her seriously, and as things got worse her GP refused to refer her again. In the end she paid to see a Neurologist privately, who did the proper test (for a fee) and gave her the bad news. All the care she gets now from the NHS is great it has to be said, but it's hard not to escape the conclusion that the NHS is a little too focused on trying not to help you.
The worse thing was I found out from the copies of correspondence I received they'd discussed my case at a meeting in April and decided it was clearly Crohn's and that I'd need surgery, but nobody thought to either tell me or arrange the surgery. So it was only at my follow up appointment 2 months later that I found out, and the ball started rolling. By that stage I'd decided I was going to pay for private treatment thereafter even if it was out of my own pocket (my family were also offering to pay for me, not that I would have taken them up on the offer).
Postcode lottery as has been said. My mother (who lives in a completely different postcode) unfortunately has Motor Neurone Disease. She saw an NHS Neurologist several times, who kept refusing to take her seriously, and as things got worse her GP refused to refer her again. In the end she paid to see a Neurologist privately, who did the proper test (for a fee) and gave her the bad news. All the care she gets now from the NHS is great it has to be said, but it's hard not to escape the conclusion that the NHS is a little too focused on trying not to help you.
Just to provide some balance to my NHS bashing:
As I said my surgery was originally going to be on the NHS, but then I discovered I was covered privately. As I'd already met (and liked) the surgeon I stuck with him, but the only problem was he didn't work to Aviva's rates. This meant the operation would cost £80 more than the insurance would cover, and I'd have to pay. Fair enough.
But now I have a bill for £380. It turns out an extra procedure was carried out, as is quite likely as they don't know for sure what they're going to find, but the insurance company won't cover this as the surgeon doesn't follow their rules and their rules are that he should have stuck to the original price. Or maybe they think the surgeon should wake you up in the middle of surgery so you can phone your health insurance provider for permission.:mad2:
As I said my surgery was originally going to be on the NHS, but then I discovered I was covered privately. As I'd already met (and liked) the surgeon I stuck with him, but the only problem was he didn't work to Aviva's rates. This meant the operation would cost £80 more than the insurance would cover, and I'd have to pay. Fair enough.
But now I have a bill for £380. It turns out an extra procedure was carried out, as is quite likely as they don't know for sure what they're going to find, but the insurance company won't cover this as the surgeon doesn't follow their rules and their rules are that he should have stuck to the original price. Or maybe they think the surgeon should wake you up in the middle of surgery so you can phone your health insurance provider for permission.:mad2:
