Private healthcare costs continue to escalate. Due to the high cost of private treatment in private hospitals, many people think that they provide better services.
Because of this belief, they choose to use private health insurance (PMI) to pay for their private health treatment.
Because of the long waiting list, many patients are switching from the NHS to private healthcare. They keep looking for a Private health insurance broker Who can help them get the best private health insurance coverage, depending on their treatment.
But which is really better?
What is the NHS?
The National Health Service (NHS) is a government-funded healthcare system that provides healthcare to all UK citizens.
Since its founding in 1948, the NHS has been globally recognized for its services, value and affordability. It also became the largest health care system in the world funded by a common tax. Its services are segregated into hospital and specialty services, general practitioner and dental services, and local health authority services.
Here are some of the services offered free of charge by the NHS:
- Hospital treatment accidents and emergencies (A&E)
- Consult with your GP or nurse
- Maternity service
- Treatment of minor injuries at the clinic
- Treatment with a consultant or specialist if referred by a family doctor
- Contraception and sexual health services
What is private health insurance?
Private health insurance or PMI pays for medical treatments and procedures performed in private healthcare facilities. To get health insurance, you need to buy an insurance policy and pay a premium to cover your condition or treatment to have health insurance.
The following are included and may be included in your PMI scope:
- Hospitalization costs
- Diagnostic testing procedures such as CT scans and MRIs
- Surgery
- Hospital accommodation and nursing care
- Consulting or expert fees
- Cancer drugs (some insurance policies cover medicines not available on the NHS)
- Mental health treatment
- Outpatient consulting
- Complementary therapy
Why Is Private Health Insurance So Popular?
While the NHS provides free services, PMI complements NHS services by offering policies that cover the cost of rapid access to private medical treatment, treatment of acute conditions, and more. computers, access to other services and medicines are not always available on the NHS.
Here are other reasons why patients prefer PMIs:
1. Waiting list
As the NHS offers free services and treatments, many people are queuing up to get treatment. This is why the wait can take days to weeks, depending on how many people need treatment.
Patients with private health insurance policies can significantly reduce wait times, get treatment faster. Some health plans also allow their policyholders to choose a private general practitioner (GP).
2. Quality and Type of Care or Service
Both private health insurance and the NHS offer excellent quality services. As the NHS provides free services and treatment, private healthcare facilities strive to provide more modern and comfortable facilities as well as more advanced treatment in some areas to better than the NHS. . In addition, the main advantage that PMI offers is the ability to choose your private hospital, doctor and treatment method.
3. Costs
The NHS is publicly funded, and all people have access to free medical care. You can pay your bills yourself or use private health insurance to cut your bills significantly when it comes to private healthcare. The cost of PMI depends on the coverage offered by your insurance, your current health condition, and other personal circumstances. Factors that affect PMI costs are age, number of people insured, family history, pre-existing medical conditions, lifestyle and neighborhood.
4. Medicines and Treatments
Some appropriate drugs, such as cancer drugs, can be very expensive and may not be covered by the NHS. As a result, patients may need to be referred to private health facilities for access.
However, the drugs and treatments that you can get through PMI depend on the coverage and benefits listed on your policy. Some complex treatments must be carried out on the NHS as they may not be available privately.
Can you combine NHS and Private Health Insurance?
Private health insurance should not be seen as a replacement but as a complementary service to the NHS for the following reasons:
Chronic diseases
Private health insurance will not cover chronic conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, etc. If you want private treatment for these conditions, you will have to pay for it yourself. If you don’t want to pay expensive medical bills, the NHS offers free treatments.
Accidents and Emergencies (A&E)
The NHS only offers A&E because most hospitals do not have the facilities to provide these services.
Health care for children
The NHS gives immediate priority to children, which makes waiting times for treatment quicker. PMI also offers an option to add children to your policy.
Conclusion
The NHS and private health insurance both provide quality healthcare services. The answer to which is better will depend on your condition, the type of treatments required, and how you want those treatments done.
If you want faster treatment, medicines and services not covered by the NHS, have an acute illness and have more comfortable facilities, you can choose PMI. However, if you are unable to meet the premium payment, choose NHS with free services. Alternatively, depending on your situation and ability to pay, you may still be able to combine NHS treatment with private health insurance.
