Private health insurance

chris0147

Hi all,

I need some advice, I have been looking into nhs website to get the treatment for varicocele. It said that if I want to get vasectomy, it could take several months before I could get the treatment. I have enough as I can't cope with the pain anymore, so I wondered that if I get the health insurance, would it cover all so I could see the consultant specialist and surgery without I have to pay as long I have to pay the insurance in each month?

If that is the case, I want to know if it would be a good idea to cancel the insurance a month after I get the treatment or I would better off to pay in monthly to avoid the charge?

Do you know what cover I would need for health insurance?

I'm sorry as I have no idea what type of health insurance I would need as I use NHS but they are too slow.

Thanks in advance

Aretnap

Private health insurance will not generally cover treatment for conditions which you already know about at the time you take it out. If it did everybody would do what you're proposing to do - not buy it until you actually need an operation, take it out the day before the operation, then cancel it the day after. A month's premium would have to be the same as the cost of the average operation - which would completely defeat the object of insurance which is to spread risk and costs.

Basically health insurance is there to cover treatment which you might need in future, not treatment which you know you need now.

I'm afraid your options are to use the NHS, or to pay for the treatment yourself. The latter might not be as expensive as you expect. On a quick Google a ballpark figure for a private vasectomy is in the region of £500; I have no idea whether having varicocele makes this more expensive but it would be worth looking into.

sheramber

Vasectomy does not seem to be a cure for varicocele.

see this http://www.vasectomy-information.com/vasectomy-experience-with-varicocele/

agrinnall

sheramber wrote: »

Vasectomy does not seem to be a cure for varicocele.

see this http://www.vasectomy-information.com/vasectomy-experience-with-varicocele/

One person's experience doesn't really justify your conclusion. I would hope that the OP has been discussing the treatment with his GP for personalised advice.

chris0147

Well I actually need to have operation because the condition I have it wont go away on its own, so does health insurance cover the operation and the constant specialist that I am going to see?

How much does it cost for varicocele microsurgery?

Aretnap wrote: »

Private health insurance will not generally cover treatment for conditions which you already know about at the time you take it out. If it did everybody would do what you're proposing to do - not buy it until you actually need an operation, take it out the day before the operation, then cancel it the day after. A month's premium would have to be the same as the cost of the average operation - which would completely defeat the object of insurance which is to spread risk and costs.

Basically health insurance is there to cover treatment which you might need in future, not treatment which you know you need now.

I'm afraid your options are to use the NHS, or to pay for the treatment yourself. The latter might not be as expensive as you expect. On a quick Google a ballpark figure for a private vasectomy is in the region of £500; I have no idea whether having varicocele makes this more expensive but it would be worth looking into.

chris0147

agrinnall wrote: »

One person's experience doesn't really justify your conclusion. I would hope that the OP has been discussing the treatment with his GP for personalised advice.

I am going to see the doctor soon as I will ask him about this so hopefully i wont have to wait long. If I have to wait longer I would be thinking about to go private.

Do you know if health insurance does cover for surgery and the constant specialist that I am going to see?

Caz3121

chris0147 wrote: »

Do you know if health insurance does cover for surgery and the constant specialist that I am going to see?

there is some information here on private insurance
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/healthcare/private-healthcare/private-healthcare1/buying-private-health-insurance/

the key statements would be
Most health insurance policies won't cover:
a medical condition you had before taking out the policy

you should consider whether: you have to wait for a certain amount of time (a qualifying period) before you can make a claim on the policy

you can check the firms individually
Bupa - Comprehensive covers you for acute conditions that arise after the start of your cover - so you won't be able to use it for medical conditions that were apparent before the start of your membership.

Aviva - It’s important to know that pre-existing conditions aren’t covered.

Axa - in the first two years of cover there is no cover for the treatment of pre-existing conditions

You could contact a private hospital and ask them if they are able to provide an estimated cost of the procedure you require

lisyloo

You have been told NO already.
Insurance only covers problems you don't already have.
The only exception would be if you worked for a large employer with a scheme where your previous health was disregarded.
Have you checked if your employer has a scheme?

Sometimes it's worth paying to see a a specialist and the getting the OP on the NHS. I know several people who say it's getting diagnosed that's the problem, partly because you're in a larger group of people, some of whom don't need the OP. Once you are diagnosed then you can get the OP pretty quick especially if you are prepared to travel somewhere with a shorter waiting list.

The first thing to do is see your GP becuase usually they'd be able to help with the pain, but if you have the money then private consultant can speed things up.

pvt

chris0147 wrote: »

Well I actually need to have operation because the condition I have it wont go away on its own, so does health insurance cover the operation and the constant specialist that I am going to see?

A new health insurance policy will NOT cover treatment of an existing condition. But that does not stop you paying for the private treatment yourself.

From my experience the huge benefit of private treatment is that you get access to an experienced consultant, not a hospital registrar, and they will see you at your appointed time and usually spend a generous amount of time discussing the problem and your options.

So whilst you will generally be seen quicker and treated quicker, the main benefit of paying is in seeing the top dog and benefitting from his superior knowledge, advice, and ultimately, treatment.