Can you help me understand health insurance in the UK?
I want to get private healthcare, but I’m unsure whether private health insurance (through BUPA or another such company) or just paying for a consultation with a private Doctor would be cheaper? If I sign up to a health insurance scheme, like BUPA, do I have to wait a period of time before I make a claim, or can I ask for treatment immediately?
NHS is free providing you are resident and working, paying tax and NI.
I suggest you telephone BUPA and ask them about if you have to wait x amount of months. As for paying cash, do not know.
Either way Private or NHS, you have to be reffered by a GP and if they refuse to refer you, then you do not get any further.
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Comments
Self paying may seem cheap in the short term but if you develop an illness which requires a lot of treatment bills can run into the tens of thousands or if modern cancer drugs are needed it could be hundreds of thousands. So you might decide that the best option is a medical insurance policy. These vary from company to company and also the qualifying periods ( ie the length of time before you can make a claim) I represent Western Provident Association, an award winning, not for profit health insurer and on our private plans the qualifying period on the Essential policy is only in respect of Cancer. However, pre-existing conditions may be excluded ( which is the case with most health insurance )
Hope this helps
References :
http://www.wpa.org.uk/paulturner
NHS is free providing you are resident and working, paying tax and NI.
I suggest you telephone BUPA and ask them about if you have to wait x amount of months. As for paying cash, do not know.
Either way Private or NHS, you have to be reffered by a GP and if they refuse to refer you, then you do not get any further.
References :