private insurance or not?

Would you recommend a private insurance or not?
I am not concern about having a private room at the hospital as much as being in a dirty doctor office or hospital ward? Is it really dirty and scarry? Are you concern when you need to take your children to the doctor? Are the doctors and nurses nice or rude?

The thing is that even those insurance that only supplement the NHS coverage aren't excatly cheap!! But if many of you think is necessary we might consider doing it when we get there.

Thank you
Marilena

Would you recommend a private insurance or not?
I am not concern about having a private room at the hospital as much as being in a dirty doctor office or hospital ward? Is it really dirty and scarry? Are you concern when you need to take your children to the doctor? Are the doctors and nurses nice or rude?

I've managed very well for fifteen years without private health insurance.  I have NEVER seen a dirty office or ward, I would have no qualms or concerns about taking my children to the doctor-it has never even occurred to me to.  It is not dirty or scary.  The doctors and nurses are human.  You  run into really nice ones, you run into the occasional rude one.  Just like you would ANYwhere.   Where are you hearing this stuff?

we have private but only because i've had serious health issues in the past and i didn't want to take any chances and not be able to get specialized care if necessary....or have to wait a long time for it.

Some people might view the hospitals here as "dirty"because they are older and might appear "cleaner" I guess....I would not know as I have only been to my GP and they are clean and decent.  Though I would add that you can't see things that can kill you such as MRSA which is making plenty of people sick in both countries.

Also there are lots of people on socialized medince in Europe/Canada and even in the USA (VA-Military) and while you may wait a while for some procedures, life threatening illness takes a precendent.  The NHS is making decreasing wait times one of their primary goals in the next few years.

So I mean if it makes you feel better and you want service faster then get something like BUPA -though be aware that you will often get the same people anyways.

Also private insurance will not cover a lot of things here, eg ante natal care and you would have to pay up front for that if you went private. Also bear in mind, if you are in an emergency situation and an ambulance is called, no-one is going to ask you about your insurance, you will be taken to the nearest public Accident & Emergency Dept.  So it really depends why you think you need health insurance. This is a first world country and the medical facilitities here are comparable to other first world countries.  I wouldn't say insurance was a necessity unless, like Stacey said, you have a particular condition you are worried about, and even then most people wouldn't go private.  Some people can get private health insurance at a special rate through their company - if that's your situation then it might be worth taking it up. But if you are a generally healthy person with no special healthcare needs, the NHS is more than adequate.

Some people can get private health insurance at a special rate through their company - if that's your situation then it might be worth taking it up.

Exactly, that is why I have private insurance.  I can go to a doctor either here or back in the US and also I don't need a referral to see a specialist.

bvamin

Exactly, that is why I have private insurance. I can go to a doctor either here or back in the US and also I don't need a referral to see a specialist.

bvamin

So if you want to see an OB/GYN for example how do you go about it? Do you just call the office or do private insurance companies have their own designated consultants?

I personally would say don't bother unless you've got a condition that means you'll need to see specialists, etc. And it doesn't seem that they have such an aversion to "pre-existing conditions" here as in the US. I have a friend who's son had what could have ended up being a serious problem and after seeing their GP about it, they signed up for private insurance so that their son could be seen by a specialist immediately....

I am glad to hear that.  And I believe it.  I have this book called "Living and Working in Britain " wrote by a Brit ( I think) and he talks very negativly about the NHS. I guess it's probably easier sometimes not to appreciate what you have and wanting it different. I am italian and unfortunatly I have to say some italian hospitals are very dirty and scary, but the British usualy like to do think well and fairly organized.
Thank you I really appreciate your comments and also I am glad to know that you are very happy living there I hope I will too.
Marilena

I have BUPA (private) through my work and my husband has a pre-existing condition and its excluded from the policy for two years. Not sure how they determine the time limit? Luckily he hasn't had any problems...its managed through medication but I found that interesting....very much like in the states if you have a pre-existing...its not covered.

On a separate note my husband had a back problem last year and the waiting time through the NHS for therapy was 12 weeks, because we have BUPA he was seen through them within a week and had regular visits for about six weeks, they were great and really helped with his problem. He is a runner and was back to running shortly thereafer.

As for GYN exams you have to go through the NHS (local surgery). When I told my a nurse at my local surgery that if I had an issue with having it done by a GP they said I could go "private" not on BUPA, on my own dime and said it would be about £100 for a basic exam. Also, I recently had a ear problem and after the GP not being able to do anything about it I mentioned I had BUPA and wanted to see a specialist....I was told that normally a specialist wouldn't be referred until they had done everything they could as a GP...well three months into the ear problem I was more than ready to see a specialist.

Also, I have been in my local surgery (doctors office) a few times and noticed young babies/children in there...I think the GP sees them instead of a pediatrician? Not sure? I certainly don't know about that, other folks with children can speak to that better than me.

I am sure others with more experience can give some advise. As for me, I definitely want to have BUPA as a fall back.

Julie

When I go over and can work I'm going to get BUPA. I have no problem with NHS, but if I or my boyfriend were to have a medical emergency, I wold want treatement asap. At home in the states I have insurance. I was complaining of chest pains and got a cardiogram right there. I don't want to have to wait months for something if I don't have to.

When I go over and can work I'm going to get BUPA. I have no problem with NHS, but if I or my boyfriend were to have a medical emergency, I wold want treatement asap. At home in the states I have insurance. I was complaining of chest pains and got a cardiogram right there. I don't want to have to wait months for something if I don't have to.

You'd get emergency treatment.  It's generally the non-urgent stuff you'd wait for.   

And I am not sure Bupa hospitals even have emergency departments - you'd go to a public hospital for that anyway I think. 

You'd get emergency treatment.  It's generally the non-urgent stuff you'd wait for.   

Ohh, ok....

And I am not sure Bupa hospitals even have emergency departments - you'd go to a public hospital for that anyway I think.

BritWife, I think you are correct....Bupa does not have emergency rooms. I say that because one of my coworkers had an emergency (fell and broke her arm) so she went to her local BUPA and they sent her directly to an NHS hospital.

Julie