Is private health insurance a better option than the NHS?
23rd Apr 2024 Health
6 min read
With the struggles of the NHS, more people have opted for private health insurance which has its own advantages and disadvantages
Private healthcare and health insurance may be on
the rise in the UK, with concerns over issues like NHS
wait times and lack of hospital beds. Private health insurance is seen as a way
to access high-quality care without the drawbacks of public service use.
Do you need private health insurance?
It may seem like an obvious question but before taking
out insurance you should already have a solid idea of whether you really need
it or not. For instance, do you need certain treatments in a shorter timeframe
than the NHS can realistically provide? Or do you need specialist treatment
that you can’t get on the NHS? If this is the case, private healthcare may be a
better option for you, if you need faster access to a GP or hospital services.
Benefits of private healthcare
There are a few upsides to private health insurance,
which include a reduction in wait time, getting access to specialist referral,
drugs and treatments that aren’t available on the NHS, and special treatments
like physiotherapy which may also be offered with health insurance.
Another benefit is access to private hospitals and
private rooms, allowing for rest and recovery in high quality facilities. Though
in some cases you may also be able to access private patient units of NHS
hospitals of your choice. Quick access to GPs is another positive of health
insurance, which includes out-of-hours, 24/7 access and video consultation if
needed.
Benefits of the NHS
The NHS has a clear appeal, being free at the point of
use for all British citizens, foreign nationals who have naturalised as British
citizens and overseas nationals who have settled in the UK. The NHS covers a
range of treatment from A&E treatment to urgent care and minor/major
surgery.
Specialised treatments like physiotherapy can also be
offered for individuals if deemed necessary and people gain access to local NHS
hospitals, doctors and specialists at the point of need.
Challenges facing private healthcare Vs the NHS
The primary concern with private health insurance is
in the costs, as general coverage may not be too expensive but costs for
private treatment may be. Health insurance also doesn’t necessarily cover
treatment for all issues, including organ transplants, pre-existing
medical conditions and cosmetic surgery, which will
need to be paid for out of insurance costs. This is why it’s important to check
what is covered under private insurance, to avoid being surprised by certain
things being excluded.
"Private health insurance may not be a viable option for many families"
Ironically, just like the NHS, access to other key health
areas like dentistry may also not be covered and you may need to go to an
independent dentist practice. Cost is a major barrier to entry and a potential
concern for many with private health insurance, having to pay hundreds of
pounds annually on average for coverage for just a single person. So, with the cost-of-living
crisis and potentially needing to cover multiple family members, private health
insurance may not be a viable option for many families.
The challenges facing the NHS are apparent, with understaffing
issues affecting hospitals and trusts all over the UK, which in turn affects
wait times and potential service levels. Patient satisfaction with the NHS of
late is at its lowest
level ever recorded, at around 24 per cent. With a
persisting view that the NHS is underfunded by the government, there is patient
frustration at lengthy wait times, struggles to get GP appointments and
treatment backlogs.
Primary care services are free to all, both to British
citizens and overseas nationals in the UK, however secondary services may come
with a fee known as the immigration
health surcharge. This fee is £1,035 a year for a regular UK Visa
and £776 for students, though migrant NHS workers and asylum seekers and some
other groups are exempt from paying the fee. The surcharge does not need to be
paid along with a Visa application from outside of the UK which is for six
months or less in duration.
Conclusion
Private health insurance has a few clear benefits and
advantages over the NHS in wait times, access to GPs and access to specialised
drugs not available in public healthcare. However, the drawbacks of taking out
insurance also shouldn’t be overlooked, from prohibitive costs to certain
conditions not being covered that will still need to be paid for out of pocket,
costs for procedures can quickly add up.
Public and private healthcare are increasingly linked
in recent times, with frustrations over the state of the NHS leading to people
taking private healthcare. Though neither system is perfect, you should
consider what is most appropriate for yourself and your family when you do need
certain treatment or procedures.
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