Private health insurance and tonsil issues!

I would dare say that my questions are unethical as insurance companies, in my opinion are formed around corruption...

With that said here is my question: How can i go about getting my tonsils taken out and get it covered by a private healthcare plan? Any suggestions on the best ones and how do i go about doing it - as i assume it will take some planning considering pre-exisiting conditions are NOT allowed.... I have pretty big tonsils but they arent gigantic. I get sick quite often but not often enough for the NHS to care. I havent even bothered discussing it with my GP because i knew it would be useless and i didnt want it on my records.

Any help - appreciated.

If you want to go private, you dont need insurance to do so (and they will probably ask you to complete a proper health survey - including questions about ongoing/untreated conditions - if you fail to answer honestly it is fraud) as the GP can refer you to someone.

I'd at least try to get the NHS to do it.  My DH got his tonsils out 2 years ago, and he wasn't terribly ill--just had really big tonsils and sleep problems as a result.

The NHS requires something like 6 bouts of tonsil infection in 12 months to remove adult tonsils, if they will even do it then.

It is a much more serious procedure in adults than in children.  

But yes, you won't be covered by private insurance for pre-existing conditions.  But you can pay for it yourself.  Even if it hasn't been recorded, they still might not cover it because they would ask if this has happened in the past.

But yes, you won't be covered by private insurance for pre-existing conditions. 

Yes and no.  The pre-existing clauses don't work like US insurance.  I had surgery twice for the same condition on UK private insurance and I had a surgery before both of those (disclosed to the UK insurance).  While it was clear I had the issue for years, which would have been a clear pre-existing issue under a US definition, the UK insurance didn't consider it so.  The considered each surgery a close of an issue and each new surgery was for a reoccurance, with the reoccurance counting as a new condition.

Hmm. Thank you for your replies. I can't say i am any closer to knowing what to do...I think i might just go the NHS route and see what they say. By doing this im going on the record about having tonsil issues and will just see what happens.

As said, in general, you're going to have a hard time finding a UK private insurance company to cover you for this. Sara Smile is right that the pre-existing definition is a bit different in the UK, but in your case, I suspect it isn't as you've not had your tonsils out yet!

It's possible you might qualify for a private insurance plan via and employer of yours or your partners (if you have one). Some employee plans do not have pre-existing condition clauses.

Aside from that, your best bet is to attempt the traditional NHS route or to find a private GP (if your NHS one is not cooperative) and get a referral to a private ENT or whomever it is that does that surgery. Of course in that case, you'd pay out of pocket.

My tonsils were removed in the US when I was about 24-years-old (10 years ago). And the funny thing was the waiting room was filled with toddler-sized chairs. Waiting mothers were condoling with my grandparents, who were at the clinic to drive me home afterwards.

I don't know how serious your condition is, but I had such an infection in my throat that as a result, I was afflicted with anemia. I was cold much of the time, and depressed, and generally felt awful.

Sadly, I can't help you with any advice as to what it would take to go through the NHS to get the surgery done. But if you need the surgery, please be persistent. It was one of the best moves I ever made.

The NHS requires something like 6 bouts of tonsil infection in 12 months to remove adult tonsils, if they will even do it then.

It is a much more serious procedure in adults than in children. 

But yes, you won't be covered by private insurance for pre-existing conditions.  But you can pay for it yourself.  Even if it hasn't been recorded, they still might not cover it because they would ask if this has happened in the past.

Just to provide an anecdote, I had only had tonsillitis once, and it stuck around for about a month, and my [NHS] GP referred me to an [NHS] ENT who scheduled a tonsillectomy immediately. Total time from seeing the GP the first time to surgery was 2 months. So it's not as cut and dry as those requirements you've cited!

It can depend on your GP and if your local hospital will do the surgery.

My co-workers has had tonsillitis 9 times in the past 18 months and her GP still won't refer her, mainly because he doesn't think the hospital will do it.