Six Reasons to Consider Private Medical Insurance
Good health is something we all often take for granted, but the reality is that all of us will need medical treatment at some point in our lives.
Traditionally in the UK many people rely solely on the National Health Service (NHS) for their medical care, however, they could also benefit from a degree of private medical cover that both supports and provides addition healthcare to the NHS.
The following are six reasons why people in the UK should consider some form of private medical insurance: 1: Fast treatmentThe Department of Health has stated that from December 2008 no one should wait more than 18 weeks from the time they are referred to the start of treatment, unless it is clinically appropriate or they choose to wait longer.
This is a great improvement from past NHS waiting list times, however, it still means that many people in the UK are waiting up to just over four months for treatment.
When a person is ill or injured time can pass frustratingly slowly.
With private medical insurance the waiting time between referral and treatment are greatly reduced.
In addition there is no waiting for hours past your appointment time to see the consultant.
Even if a person is happy to wait for NHS treatment they should not discount private medical cover as some policies provide a cash payment for people who prefer to wait.
2: Peace of mindPeople insure their homes, cars and other valuables to give them peace of mind so that if something happens they know they are covered financially and can replace what has been lost.
Good health is a persons most value asset and though it is not always something that can be replaced it should be protected.
Private medical insurance means that should anything go wrong; the person is in a position to get the right treatment as quickly as possible and in a clean environment.
3: Freedom of choiceBeing able to choose a consultant and where you want to be treated is one of the major benefits of private medical cover.
Just keep in mind that not all private medical insurance offers complete freedom in this area.
Some providers though not all restrict treatment to a set lists of hospitals, so check the policy details.
A final point to consider is that though freedom of choice in your medical insurance is important you many not necessarily know how to find the right treatment.
So having a medical insurance company with a treatment sourcing service could prove a very useful tool.
4: PrivacyWhen someone is ill, privacy and peace of mind can be an important factor in helping a person relax and this subsequently assists recovery.
Private medical insurance provides access to private treatment should it be required.
Private hospitals can provide much more privacy than an NHS ward including private rooms often with en-suite facilities.
In addition you will not have a group of medical students accompanying your consultant.
5: Continuity of carePrivate medical insurance can mean that people who need repeat medical appointments are more likely to see the same consultant.
Sadly the same is often not the case on the NHS where speed of treatment often means that continuity of care is sacrificed.
A report from the National Institute for Health Research in June 2006 highlighted that recent changes to Primary Care Trusts had at that time reduce continuity of care for patients and that continuity of care needed to be given greater priority.
6: Specialist claim teamWhen someone is unwell or injured they just want to get better.
Having people to support them through the treatment process can reduce worry and help the person find the best treatment solution for them.
Some medical insurers have teams that deal specifically with medical conditions, such as cancer and/or provide specialist assistance in treatment sourcing.
Private medical insurance, although not right for everyone does and can provide a very beneficial service for many people in the UK.
It can provide fast, private medical care giving people peace of mind and freedom of choice plus specialist support and continuity of care.
Traditionally in the UK many people rely solely on the National Health Service (NHS) for their medical care, however, they could also benefit from a degree of private medical cover that both supports and provides addition healthcare to the NHS.
The following are six reasons why people in the UK should consider some form of private medical insurance: 1: Fast treatmentThe Department of Health has stated that from December 2008 no one should wait more than 18 weeks from the time they are referred to the start of treatment, unless it is clinically appropriate or they choose to wait longer.
This is a great improvement from past NHS waiting list times, however, it still means that many people in the UK are waiting up to just over four months for treatment.
When a person is ill or injured time can pass frustratingly slowly.
With private medical insurance the waiting time between referral and treatment are greatly reduced.
In addition there is no waiting for hours past your appointment time to see the consultant.
Even if a person is happy to wait for NHS treatment they should not discount private medical cover as some policies provide a cash payment for people who prefer to wait.
2: Peace of mindPeople insure their homes, cars and other valuables to give them peace of mind so that if something happens they know they are covered financially and can replace what has been lost.
Good health is a persons most value asset and though it is not always something that can be replaced it should be protected.
Private medical insurance means that should anything go wrong; the person is in a position to get the right treatment as quickly as possible and in a clean environment.
3: Freedom of choiceBeing able to choose a consultant and where you want to be treated is one of the major benefits of private medical cover.
Just keep in mind that not all private medical insurance offers complete freedom in this area.
Some providers though not all restrict treatment to a set lists of hospitals, so check the policy details.
A final point to consider is that though freedom of choice in your medical insurance is important you many not necessarily know how to find the right treatment.
So having a medical insurance company with a treatment sourcing service could prove a very useful tool.
4: PrivacyWhen someone is ill, privacy and peace of mind can be an important factor in helping a person relax and this subsequently assists recovery.
Private medical insurance provides access to private treatment should it be required.
Private hospitals can provide much more privacy than an NHS ward including private rooms often with en-suite facilities.
In addition you will not have a group of medical students accompanying your consultant.
5: Continuity of carePrivate medical insurance can mean that people who need repeat medical appointments are more likely to see the same consultant.
Sadly the same is often not the case on the NHS where speed of treatment often means that continuity of care is sacrificed.
A report from the National Institute for Health Research in June 2006 highlighted that recent changes to Primary Care Trusts had at that time reduce continuity of care for patients and that continuity of care needed to be given greater priority.
6: Specialist claim teamWhen someone is unwell or injured they just want to get better.
Having people to support them through the treatment process can reduce worry and help the person find the best treatment solution for them.
Some medical insurers have teams that deal specifically with medical conditions, such as cancer and/or provide specialist assistance in treatment sourcing.
Private medical insurance, although not right for everyone does and can provide a very beneficial service for many people in the UK.
It can provide fast, private medical care giving people peace of mind and freedom of choice plus specialist support and continuity of care.
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