Medical Insurance Cost Cutting Plan Article Discussion Area

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Medical Insurance Cost Cutting Plan Article

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aloiseb

I have plumped for private medical insurance after thinking things through when my husband had to have an operation last year. (The hospital was MUCH nicer than the NHS one who would have also had him wait about a year....) I used the system Martin suggested to find a good deal -it took ages but was (I hope) worth it.

I'd like to point out that nearly all the ones I looked at had AT LEAST a moratorium of two years on anything I had had a problem with before, and many wouldn't provide any cover for pre-existing conditions at all. I decided I'd better take out cover straight away, before any other bits started to go wrong! Possible this is just what they had in mind.

it would be lovely to do the "self-insurance" thing Martin suggests but let's face it, how many people have that amount of self-control at that age? I spent all my money on seeing Europe - and I'm glad I did - not on some future hip operation!

BEVI_3

Hi, my husband and I have taken early retirement to go cruising on our boat. We intend to mainly cruise in the med. Can anyone give any help regards medical care abroad. We have E111, but no other insurance etc. I need some surgery to my thumbs, but don't want to sit around in England on a waiting list. Is there any way I can have the op in France or Spain? As most insurances rule out care for existing problems, what can I do? Thanks in advance, BEVI

sandeep_14

I had health insurance and working within the nhs i thought i had a good deal
i got a 33 % discount
i looked on money saving expert to see if this could be bettered
i have now saved over 90.00 pounds for a family of four with a " reputable " company
i really think that was good and the saving fantastic:

sandeep 14:j

new

any experience or comments regarding Pru health plan?

louloubelle79

Hello
I am a student nurse in the NHS and wondered if i could laos get a discount? I need to find a private medical insurer who would cover me (even 50% covered) for a pre-existing illness. Is there anyone who knows anyone that could cover me or help with my costs for me? I am at breaking point and need help.

ADM

My son plays semi pro rugby, anyone know which is the best type of insurance.
I suspect he would be better with some health care insurance and some loss of income insurance.
Any advice will be much appreciated.

PMISpecialist_2

BEVI wrote: »

Hi, my husband and I have taken early retirement to go cruising on our boat. We intend to mainly cruise in the med. Can anyone give any help regards medical care abroad. We have E111, but no other insurance etc. I need some surgery to my thumbs, but don't want to sit around in England on a waiting list. Is there any way I can have the op in France or Spain? As most insurances rule out care for existing problems, what can I do? Thanks in advance, BEVI

Hi Bevi,

You need an international policy. there are many many insurers offering international policies. i.e. Bupa international, Global, Axa/PPP International etc etc etc

First thing is to check is if you can get away with a good travel insurance though, as it will be a fraction of the price of international PMI and unbelievably covers you for more as well i.e. PMI covers you for just medical bills. Whilst the insurance covers you if you have possessions stolen, liability insurance etc etc aswell, i have seen some (company travel insurance) that will cover you up to 180 days (6 months) at any one time maybe there is an individual scheme which will cover you. You can then come back for 1 day and go for another 180 days or whatever. Companies will negotiate the amount of time you can go for and may just charge you a little extra premium.

If you can't get away with travel insurance, then international PMI it is. If you just opt for European cover it should be cheaper to. If you have worldwide including USA and Canada it can be more expensive.

You will struggle to get your pre existing condition covered though. As most insurances (especially PMI), the insurance covers you for future conditions not past conditions. i.e. with car insurance you don't smash your car up and then get insurance and expect them to pay out. You have the insurance before the problem. Similarly with PMI they are not going to allow you to get ill, then pay a £50 premium, them claim £50,000 or whatever and cancel then scheme, they woulden't last long in business.

There exeptions to this i.e. typically companies with over 20 employees on a group scheme can have MHD (Medical History Disregarded) underwritting. That does pretty much what it says on the tin.

PMISpecialist_2

louloubelle79 wrote: »

Hello
I am a student nurse in the NHS and wondered if i could laos get a discount? I need to find a private medical insurer who would cover me (even 50% covered) for a pre-existing illness. Is there anyone who knows anyone that could cover me or help with my costs for me? I am at breaking point and need help.

Hi,

Its hard to get pre- existing conditions covered unless you work for a large ish company who has a scheme in operation.

Some company schemes offer MHD (Medical History Disregarded) underwriting (i.e. 20+ members) which does as it says i.e. disregards past conditions and allows you to claim for conditions you had before you joined. However, since your employer is the NHS i would be surprised if they did have a private healthcare insurance policy in place for any employees as they are not too pro private hospitals.

On an individual basis Pruhealth have a very unique moratorium you may be interested in which will cover your condition after two years (subject to their normal terms and conditions of course).

With most moratorium's it is a case of: Any condition you have suffered 5 years prior to your policy start date, you have to go 2 years advice, symptom and treatment free from the policy start date until it can be covered. If the condition flares up before the two year moratorium is complete the clock goes back to zero and the two years start again.

With Pru its the same 5 years back from the start date of the policy but two years after the start date of the policy you are covered for your pre existing conditions no matter what happens within those two years.

Without knowing more i.e. what the condition is, it is hard to say much more really.

I have sent you a private message.

friar

My mum's insurance is coming up for renewal in January and sh is 89 in fair health.She's had insurance with ppp now Axa for 20 years but the cost is now huge.Next year will be about £7500.
What worries me is she wouldn't get insuarance again at her age.But in April she broke her hip and went to NHS hospital who did a pretty fair job.(Private don't do accidents).
Have asked Axa for cheaper plans.(She doesn't get glasses,hearing aid teeth or any other incidentals which my wifes HSA doea help with)
What do you think?

PMISpecialist_2

ADM wrote: »

My son plays semi pro rugby, anyone know which is the best type of insurance.
I suspect he would be better with some health care insurance and some loss of income insurance.
Any advice will be much appreciated.

On the PMI side of things. He sounds like the sporty type, so i'd have a look at Pruhealth if i were him as if he gets to platinum, he can get free gym membership, many other really worthwhile discounts + 100% of this years unclaimed premium off next years (so he'll end up paying around £4 per monthin years 2,3,4,5, etc if he doesn't claim much + get free gym membership).

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=493150&page=55