In the UK, we’re lucky that the NHS is there to look after our health and wellbeing, whereas in other countries, the population needs to pay directly, managing their own healthcare, often relying on health insurance to cover the costs.
For us, health insurance is seen as a ‘nice to have’, rather than an essential, so many simply never consider themselves as needing it. However, news headlines about the NHS struggling to meet their targets are practically unmissable, suggesting that the need to seek alternative treatment and manage your own healthcare will increase.
As the NHS reprioritizes the areas in which it invests its budget, the services where less is spent will inevitably suffer. Spending is set to increase on cancer treatments and accident and emergency, but to the detriment of non-urgent operations, where the target to treat nine out of ten patients within 18 weeks of referral has not been met since early 2016.
Moreover, GPs have been instructed to refer fewer patients to a hospital for surgery, increasing the likelihood that people will have to live with a condition that causes them discomfort or pain for longer, which will ultimately have a negative impact on their lives.
So, what can people do to respond to this situation? For some, paying for private treatment is an option, but for many, this is too expensive to consider. However, private treatment becomes a genuine option when payment is covered, in part or in full, by a health insurance policy.
Choosing a health insurance plan.
As the name suggests, a health insurance policy is there to provide peace of mind that any treatment covered by the policy will be paid for by the insurer. In the same way that you hope you won’t need to make a claim on your car or home insurance, it’s reassuring to know it’s there just in case.
But many health insurance plans let you use a range of other services on top of paying for your private treatment, some more comprehensive than others.
Some health insurance covers just one or two types of treatment, such as dental care or personal accident cover.
See also: Considering a Healthcare Plan
Health cash plans
Health cash plans are wider ranging, designed to help you with the cost of routine health care, eye tests & glasses, treatments such as dental check-ups or physiotherapy. These work by paying out a cash sum for the service up to a determined limit by the level of cover paid for. The employer often pays for this as a benefit for their staff but plans also exist that are paid for by the individual.
Some health cash plans also have allowances for medical scanning services, counselling and health screening, which help with diagnosis and on-going treatment.
Hospital treatment insurance
Hospital treatment insurance is designed to give you peace of mind if you ever require medical treatment or surgery, allowing you to bypass potentially lengthy NHS waiting lists by opting to be treated privately.
Insurance of this nature tends to cover most surgical procedures though there are exceptions; these include treatments for cancer and heart conditions (which will be prioritised by the NHS). The cover could also include allowances for outpatient treatment and additional physiotherapy. Any pre-existing conditions most likely won’t be covered, unless treatment hasn’t been received or symptoms experienced for a predefined period.
NHS waiting lists aren’t looking as if they’ll be getting any shorter soon, so the option to choose private treatments mean that patients can be back on their feet far quicker.
Private medical insurance
If you’re looking for the gold standard of health cover, you’ll be looking at private medical insurance. This service pays out for any treatment you obtain through private clinics for ‘acute’ conditions, these will include: diseases, illnesses or injuries that are likely to respond quickly to treatment. In a similar fashion to hospital treatment insurance, you will probably find pre-existing conditions will not be covered unless there hasn’t been any treatment for a predefined period.
There are lots of levels of private medical insurance with the most basic policies that cover essential treatments, while more expensive comprehensive policies may include specialist therapies and complementary medicines such as acupuncture or chiropody.
One size doesn’t fit all
As people become more aware of their own health, and about shortfalls in the care available, there will be greater need to seek alternative sources of treatment. It is inevitable that these will cost money, whether that’s in the form of direct payment for treatment or through insurance premiums.
Consumers will ultimately need to decide what the most appropriate route for them is, considering whether the benefit outweighs the cost. Can they afford to pay for treatment as they need it, or would they prefer to pay for the peace of mind that an insurance policy offers? It’s a choice that is very individual, and one that should be given serious thought.
Westfield Health is a leading provider of corporate health insurance. Since 1919 they have been at the forefront of keeping people fit and healthy.
For more information on managing your own healthcare take a look at the Celebrity Angels website
