Private Health Care..Bupa and alike.

[jayuk]

Dave

Basically works the same.......your GP refers you to a specialist that he knows or you want to be seen by.....

I got seen in 48 hours for my graft on refereal.....but in fact I didnt need a GP letter....I just foned the Corneal Unit Private Practice up, told them who I am covered by and they gave me an appt..........you really cant beat that kind of service in all honesty.

[Sajeev]

What I have heard from friends I have over in the states is that they just wish they had something like the NHS. They tell me of having to argue with their insurance about treatments they can or can't have...having to phone around to find the best Doctors...you can only see certain doctors and that even if you have the best insurance on offer there are always limitations they will put on you....I have heard of ambulance crews who will not take you to hospital without seeing the right paperwork or even treatment refused as they are not covered!

Having said that the efficiency drive seen in the National health service (from experiances of friends and family) I have seen sick patients left in wards UNTIL it gets critical (nearer to the 50/50 stage) to give them intensive care!...as its more efficient that way?!?!?

However I have experianced the private health care as well...where they will tell you that a particular treatment can be done straight way which is the best that can be done...like having intensive care....and it will cost this amount?....or you could have this other one which is not as good but is cheaper...and you choose!...I must say that this example i give is of a few people i know how did operations abroad due to the waiting lists here and because it was cheap and the hospital was like a hotel! (no joke!)

Also an uncle of mine who was told that he could not have a by pass operation by the NHS because he was too old for it (is that cost cutting by the NHS???)...and so he went abroad and was told that his age was not a problem and had a successful operation!

But certainly I have heard close family and friends tell me of some very disturbing stories of bad care in the NHS.

Even though I know people in the states who would love to have the NHS over there...and remember private medical care don't have an ambulance service or A&E !

[kristizz]

Hi again. I thought that I'd get a few facts on this.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO)
http://www.who.int/countries/en/

Per capita spending on health in the UK is $1,989 versus $4,887 in USA.
Total health expenditure as % of GDP is 7.6% in UK versus 13.9% in USA.

Just as interesting are the morality figures:

In the UK child mortality is m/f (per 1000):7/6 as opposed to m/f (per 1000): 9/7 in the USA.
In the UK adult mortality is m/f (per 1000): 107/67 as opposed to m/f (per 1000): 140/83 in the USA

As you can see, whilst per capita spending on health care in the UK is well under half of that in the USA, and spending as expressed in GDP is nearly half of that in the USA, child and adult mortality rates in the US are significantly higher than in the UK. Obviously morbidity rates aren't included here ( LOL I do have other stuff to do besides this!) but for an interesting article on US healthcare look here:

http://www.chcf.org/topics/healthinsura ... on=reports

http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/censusand ... adnews.htm

As you can see, according to the US census bureau, the proportion of children with no health insurance remained at 11.4 percent of all children, or 8.4 million. As for adults 15.6 percent, or 45 million, in 2003 had no health insurance. Note also the prediction that 56 million people will have no cover by 2013 due to rises in insurance costs versus decreases in income.

This article reveals a great deal about your health chances depending on your race in the US:

http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/review/revi ... erace.html.

For an intriguing perspective on public sector management:

http://www.tuc.org.uk/publicsector/tuc-9650-f0.cfm

I think I would be dishonest if I said that I wanted the same thing to happen here! I depend on the NHS for my KC treatment, and there have been times when delays in getting appointments has caused big problems. e.g. It took me a month to get new contact lenses made in the middle of my law degree finals, so I had to revise for weeks with extremely bad eyesight, when with a lens it is near perfect. However, in the US, as a student from a middle income background, it is unlikely that I would have even been able to afford KC treatment, let alone go to university!

All I'm saying is that rather than all jump ship, we should rationally look at what we have in the NHS, look at what we want, and then get on the phone to ours MP's and force them to do something about it!

regards, Kristian

[Dave Dale]

Well...I'll continue to pay my NI contributions etc so the NHS won't be missing out on my contributions..only that I'll be paying more voluntarily, like I say with me it's a piece of mind issue!

People who are with Bupa on here...did you opt to have an excess or pay the extra each month not to have an excess? I am told mine would be £150 a year for the first claim...then no more excess to pay after this?

Thanks for the replies on this thread,

Dave.

[jayuk]

Dave

On my existing work Bupa cover I have no excess

But my previous policies I had a £200 excess...That basically meant that I had to pay for my first consultation and thereafter if Cover was applicable they would pay the rest. Guess the excess is an individual thing...kind of peace of mind...if you are considering PMI take a look also at L&G Secure Health as well..as thre another that cover all eventualities of grafts.......

Note : There maybe other also that cover it, but through research on Which? and also leading PMI brokers the above names plan was voted in the top 5...hwever I still managed to read there T*C and cover and indeed they do cover Grafts. just FYI

Kristian Interesting stats there but World Health Organisation? Since when have they been a credible body lol......But anyway I guess Health Cover is an individual thing.....an indeed the stats in there sights are exactly that..and can mean anything.....what I base my thoughts on is real world experience rather than stats from a body which holds no respect in industry...if I went on the premise of believing stats than many hospitals would have ZERO waiting list times, 14 days consulsation appts, and service aimed for patient care....which isnt the case...so well agree to disagee on this.

Dave - Sorry if I took your post somewhere where you didnt want it gone!

[Dave Dale]

hey....don't apoligise, I find it all very interesting!

All my questions and queries have been answered!

It says that I am covered for 'organ' transplants...but will ask about grafts when I phone back up.

MMM, not sure on the excess thing, think there was about £5 a month diff. with no ecess at all...take a few months to make up the £150 excess I would need to pay i guess?

Tried legal and general....£40+ as no teachers discount..oh well...looks like Bupa it is, and i'm running the great north run this year that they sponsor..maybe they will give me even more discount!

Cheers,

Dave.

[Dave Dale]

Well, to add some closure to this thread and maybe to aid others who have been reading this!

I have opted for Bupa's Health Care Select 2. 1 being the best but the only advantage was that it included complimentary medicine which I was'nt too fussed about!

When I asked if grafts were covered the guy said they would'nt be able to tell me until the renewal next year to see if I have had a clear year without any problems...but as a PMI they DO cover grafts..just maybe not in my case for 2 years since I declared my KC when requesting the quote.

I dropped the £150 excess so now I have no excess, it was an extra £6 a month with no excess meaning an extra £72 a year, so even if I need to see a consultant the fact that I don't have to pay the £150 means I would save over £70 based on the difference between the excess and the extra monthly cost.

Inquired about the health checks they offer to assess your health and provide a lifestyle plan type 'thing'! Anyway at over £300 one off payment or an extra £40 a month...did'nt think it was worth it!

Anyway..hope my research may help others in the future!

Dave.