A question about private insurance

Things are a bit crazed at the moment as we are getting ready for our move.  My husband is in London working and will only be coming back to the US for 1 week out of every month until our house sells.  In talking to his parents they told us that his brother was turned down for private insurance.  I am assuming that it is because he has a form of muscular dystrophy.  My husband has been tested and does not carry the gene or have dystrophy.  I think because of the stress of a new job and being away from his family he has concerns about whether or not we will be able to get private health insurance.  Now I have prexisting foot problems (frankly I should just get feet transplants!!!) but basically nothing else with us except that we could stand to lose some weight.  Can anyone offer any advice or information regarding why you would be turned down and what life would be like without private insurance.

Thanks

Kathy

....  Can anyone offer any advice or information regarding why you would be turned down and what life would be like without private insurance. ....

You'll wait a bit (or a lot) longer for treatment, especially if you don't have a life threatening condition, but if you need treatment you'll probably end up seeing the same consultant/ specialist whether you have private health insurance or not, just not in some fancy consulting room if you are relying on the NHS.

I doubt if many people in the UK have private health insurance unless it is provided, or heavily subsidized, by their employer or trade union as a perk of their job.

Also see here for other recent UK-Yankee discussion on this topic.