Private Health Care

cambsno

cambsno

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Simon
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My wife has private health care as part of her job package and I do now. All free (aside from the tax element). Question is do we put the kids on it for an additional cost? She says no as kids are always a top priority in the NHS, plus we live only around 9 miles from one of the best hospitals in the country, Addenbrookes in Cambridge. Anyone here been in that situation?
 
I'd do it. If anything (heaven forbid) happens to them, then the speed you're seen, and treatments available are so much better
 
It isn't for waiting list reasons, if they have to stay in, it is nicer (private room).

Childredn get pushed up waiting lists, BUT there are still waiting lists for stuff which only kids need. They will still be at the end of that waiting list. Private means you are seen very quickly. Both of ours are on it and we have used it twice for our youngest
 
Ours are both on it but only used it once when NHS couldn't do a heart scan until after Christmas. Went private and it was done the next day. Only other time one of them needed some treatment the consultant said there was absolutely no advantage in going private and the NHS was brilliant. Many private hospitals don't deal with children, particularly young ones and you may find many paediatricians don't have a private practice.
 
I did when my kids were younger, though never used it (thankfully). They're no longer covered as they're both over 21 and not in full-time education. They could take out their own policies, but it's pretty expensive compared to the tax "cost" I pay for the policy.
One other thing to keep in mind is that (if it's anything like my policy) if they join at the earliest opportunity they don't take pre-existing conditions into account (should there be any). If you delay, any pre-existing condition wouldn't be covered.
 
God yes put them on. My son needed an operation when he was a baby. NHS said 18-24 months. Private....same doctor. 'how about the day after tomorrow?'

I love the NHS, really believe in it but at times like that I'd happily sell my principles to get my son seen to quicker.
 
After having some issues over the last 6 months or so, I would say "private all the way" for the family. My son is now 25 so he can't be on my service, but the speed and standard of care I have had recently has made me realise how good private healthcare is.
 
It was a no brainer for me. My Daughter got added to mine 1 week after she was born.
 
mine are both on it - its not just for operations etc, my daughter had a neck problem which was looked at by a specialist and then she had 8 sessions of Physio all paid for by the health insurance.
 
I remember going to see the consultant privately. Same consultant. Except this time he wore a tie and the appointment was on time for a change rather than waiting for what seems like forever.

Icing on the cake was being given his business card with his mobile on it in case we wanted to contact him. Try that on the NHS.
 
I'd say yes, I honestly believe the NHS is brilliant (in most cases) and pretty speedy too, but, the stress of waiting to be seen can be very high and if you can afford to "jump" the queue then I think you should do it. Having had both my "children" (27 & 32) operated on in the last 18 months for the same condition I have to say the treatment, one private, the other NHS, was pretty much identical, private was quicker (obviously) but the after care was in my opinion much better on the NHS. The stress of waiting for the scans and operation on the NHS was very wearing for my son (and for us), having said that everything they did was brilliant, but as it was at the National Neurological Hospital in central London (near to Gt Ormond St) it was what one would reasonably expect.
Just bear in mind to get that level of payment out of a private medical insurance probably means you'd have to ensure you were covered for a major, possibly London, teaching hospital, otherwise it would probably be at a local Bupa/Spire hospital where they may not be able to offer the same surgeon/post operative support team.
Private is very good but sometimes only a major London or similar sized/experienced teaching hospital can offer what is needed, I would imagine Adenbrooke's is right up there with the best, just make sure the private band you're in covers that hospital if that's the one you think you'd want to use. My insurance provider has "bands" of hospital based on premium paid.

As for appointment times, both the private and the NHS ones were more of a "guide" time than an accurate reflection of actual "seen" time, then again we werent going to walk out :)
We were given plenty of time to ask questions etc and never felt rushed with either, maybe that was why they both ran late? Small price to pay I think. (sorry that was a bit of post and a smal rant :) )

Matt
 
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