Pros and Cons of private healthcare

I'm thinking of getting private health insurance for our family,what are the pros and cons of this?
Also,if I get private healthcare,does that mean we will be unable to use any NHS treatment?
If it makes a differance I'll be using private healthcare from my employer,its PPP

Pros:
Faster service (ie, less wait times)
More choice in where you are seen and by whom

Cons:
You'll pay x% of fees, where x is set by your employer's plan
If the Dr prescribes meds, the meds are not at NHS rates
You still have to go to your GP for a referral to private care

We have AXA PPP and have been please with coverage and the private doctors.  Hubby needs physio and got an appointment within a week.  Waiting lists for NHS physio in our area are horrendous.  Niall had an operation on his eyes at a private hospital.  The rooms were spotless and private, and we had a dedicated nurse throughout.  It was the best hospital experience I've had in England.

Thanks Cait. I work for AXA, So I'd be having AXA PPP as well. Its good to hear that you have good expierance with it.
Can we still use the NHS services while we have a private health care?

The main reason for private is due to mine and Courtneys medical condition we'll both be needing MRI's and Catscans. And the waiting list for those are outrageous! If I have a brain tumor, I don't want to wait a year to find out!

Yes, you can still use NHS services whilst having private care, but you can't really flop between the two for the same condition.  We looked at that with Niall's eyes.  Thinking we'd get the assessments done privately because this was the hardest to get scheduled, then use the NHS for the operation (particularly as this would be the most expensive).

The Dr was happy to do that (he does both private and NHS), but once we switched to NHS for the operation, the remainder of his care would be carried out via the NHS.  Of course your mileage may vary.

We still use the NHS for most things, but when the waiting lists for specialists are long, then we go private.

Awesome,thanks for the useful info. I was thinking of doing the same with

We still use the NHS for most things, but when the waiting lists for specialists are long, then we go private.

I am grateful for the NHS and all,but with those waiting lists,its good to have a backup!

Oh, I just thought of something ...

If you are having MRIs and CAT scans privately, but being treated for the same condition on the NHS, you will have to carry your results between the two services.  I had to do that with X-rays of a hand injury.  At times, the NHS is slow giving you those results and they may charge you for them.

We also have AXA PPP and will continue paying for it on our own since Rich was made redundant.  The doctors Ive seen at BUPA and the hospital itself were night and day to what Ive seen with the NHS. 

What about pre-existing?  Hubby has the option to obtain private coverage from his work, but we choose not to.  The pre-existing clause appeared to be one of those types where you have to go 'treatment free' for a certain period of time.  That is not possible for our oldest since most everything that she goes to the doctor for can be tied back to her condition. 
The only (slight) gripe that I have with the NHS is her therapy-speech, occupational, and physio. 

i'm on standard life supplemental health insurance.  since i have had thyroid problems (and have had for the last 13 years), this health insurnace will not cover anything to do with, or arising from my thyroid condition.  so this UK supplemental has a pre-exisiting health condition caveat. 

I have a question about private healthcare, in general, in the UK.  Will they let you pay the full amount out of pocket?  I'm not thinking about caring for conditions here, that would be prohibitively expensive, but rather for a one off, like an MRI.

i know someone here who delivered at a private hospital in the UK.  she didn't have insurance (not that most supplementals cover normal deliveries).  she paid out of pocket for all the expenses.  so i don't think you have to have insurance to go private here. 

Just found out I cant get it until I worked there a year  Well when the year comes I'll get it then. With pre-existing medical conditions. I don't think that applys to people who were born with a medical condition. For instance,if a child has Downs Syndrome, they wouldn't be excluded.

i'm sure every healthcare insurance is different but my thyroid condition i was born with.  it manifested itself when i was 13.  i've needed treatment ever since.   

now in the US, my health insurnace coulndn't refuse to treat this part of me.  their definition of pre-exisiting condition seemed to be different.

good luck and it def is worth it overall, just for you piece of mind.