Is private health insurance the way forward?
We all want to do our best to protect our own health and that of our loved ones, but for many people in the UK the National Health Service leaves a lot to be desired. The NHS has come under fire for many things over recent years, from the length of its waiting lists and the quality of care given in hospitals to the levels of staff and even the levels of hygiene exercised in NHS hospitals.
It is little wonder, therefore, that an increasing number of people have decided to turn to private healthcare in order to provide peace of mind for themselves and their loved ones. Over the past ten years the private health care industry has been declining according to industry professionals, but it has not started to increased in popularity, as more and more people decide to pay that little extra to ensure that they receive proper and speedy treatment should the need arise.
One private healthcare giant BUPA recently polled some of its customers, and reported that many had decided to opt for private healthcare cover through fear of super bugs such as MRSA in NHS hospitals. There are now six million people with private healthcare plans, and with various bleak reports over the quality and speed of NHS treatment this figure could continue to rise.
Fiona Harris from BUPA stated: ‘The whole issue of cleanliness has shot up the agenda. People don’t want to be treated in the sort of hospital where you have to keep on your slippers every time you pop to the bathroom.’
She added: ‘The NHS doesn’t provide everything people want. We see less sitting on the fence and more people coming to try private health cover.’
An official from PruHealth says: ‘Patients today are sophisticated consumers of healthcare. They research the treatments they want, but cannot always get them through the NHS.’
It is important, however, for those looking to take out private healthcare cover to consider more than just the cost, although the price of cover is important. Officials urge consumers to make sure that they do not try and save a few pounds by cutting out important and valuable benefits.
One official said: ‘It tends to be the younger buyers who are most gung ho and shave off everything to get the cheapest possible premium. Older buyers - and by this I mean people in their 40s and 50s - are much less willing to cut benefits.’
One consumer who already has a private healthcare plan also said: ‘On our recent visits, hospitals have seemed overstretched and sometimes short of staff. I have lived in Oman and so I am used to the private system. Everything happens when you want it and the hospitals are all so clean.’
By using the Internet and trying several price comparison sites consumers wishing to take out private healthcare can quickly find an affordable plan with one of a range of providers.
