In the UK we have the NHS which offers free medical treatment to every individual in the country. However, many people are choosing to pay the extra and supplement what is already on offer with additional services. But is it really that important to get health insurance? Let’s look at some of the reasons why it can be so valuable to you.
Getting treatment faster
When it comes to emergency medical treatment, no-one in the UK can match the services of the NHS. But when you are looking to get routine and non-emergency treatment for other conditions and injuries, there can often be a waiting list on the NHS. Having private medical insurance will mean you can get faster access to treatment. It can be very frustrating to have to wait many months between consultations and then surgery and other treatments. Paying the extra for private medical care can mean you get things sorted as soon as possible.
It is also true that with medical insurance you can get quicker access to follow-up procedures and treatments such as physiotherapy. This can really help speed up your recovery.
Access to additional expert opinions
When you are treated by your GP, you will generally be diagnosed by them or admitted to a hospital to be seen by one expert in the field. When you have private health insurance you can get a second opinion from a private doctor or seek out a specific specialist who you would like to treat you. This can be enormously valuable as any diagnosis you receive from a doctor will only be in their medical opinion, while another doctor might see the situation differently.
It’s also true that some drugs and treatments that aren’t available through the NHS can be funded by health insurance. This can open up a range of avenues for different treatments.
Choose the surgeon and hospital you want
Another reason that health insurance can be valuable is that you can choose the surgeon and the hospital that you want for your surgery or treatment. On the NHS this is not possible as you will simply be assigned a doctor. You will also have no choice over when your treatment will take place – but with insurance you will have the option to choose a time that suits you. This allows you to have your treatment around your current plans rather than having to change things up to suit the NHS.
Cheaper than paying for private treatment yourself
You may find that you when you become injured or ill you wish to get faster treatment than what is available on the NHS. However, paying from private medical care yourself is very expensive. This is why it can be a great idea to simply pay the fees for a health insurance package now so that you are prepared for the future.