When it comes to private medical insurance, there are several benefits which you can take advantage of. Private cover gives you access to more medical resources which are of a better quality, you spend less time waiting in hospitals and clinics, and you have access to specialist treatments.
With a large number of private medical cover and medical insurance indemnity providers out there such as incisionindemnity.com, figuring out whether you need premium cover and choosing a provider can be difficult. Although there are many positives, there are also many downsides which you need to think about.
#1: Is the NHS Enough for You?
UK residents have access to the NHS, which is completely free at the point of use, so do you really need to shell out for private medical insurance? Although there are benefits of going private, these come at a high cost, and prices are always on the rise. With premiums increasing by around three to five percent each year, you need to seriously consider whether the NHS alone is enough for your needs.
This is easier said than done, that’s for sure. To make the decision that little bit easier, it is wise to weigh up the various pros and cons of going private and then come to a balanced conclusion.
#2: The Pros of Going Private
There are several pros of going private and this is exactly why it is seen as a premium healthcare solution. Going down the private cover route gives you on-demand access to your own private healthcare solutions as opposed to relying on the NHS which, unfortunately, can sometimes mean waiting for extended periods of time before you are seen or treated. Some of the pros include:
- Access to a vast range of new resources;
- Private hospitals tend to offer more treatments than the NHS;
- More choice and privacy, such as private rooms in hospitals;
- Access to your very own doctor; and
- An overall better service and experience.
There is no denying that going private is a good thing to do if you can both afford it and need it. The biggest upside is access to more treatments which are administered quicker, and there is little-to-no waiting around, which means you can get on the mend faster.
#3: The Cons of Going Private
The first and most obvious downside of going private is that it comes at a price and, depending on your provider, this can be very high. The price which you do pay ultimately depends on not only the provider, however, but the specific policy you go with and how many people are included under it.
This cost tends to increase year-on-year by as much as five percent, and the average cost of a family policy which covers two adults and two children can be as high as £2,000 per year. If you use the NHS often, however, or find that it is unsuitable for your needs, this isn’t such a high price to pay.
One major con is that, generally, private insurance will not cover chronic conditions such as diabetes or heart disease and you will instead have to rely on the NHS. This does depend on an individual policy; some do cover it.
Whether or not it makes sense for you to go private depends entirely on your unique position. The NHS is completely free at the point of use (excluding certain prescriptions and dental services) and is usually enough for most people. But if you are tired of long wait times and want more privacy when you do need to go to the hospital, private health insurance may be right for you.
