health cover - worth waiting for?

dilby00

Hi all -

I've been telling myself for ages that I need to get private health cover and recently I've noticed my knee getting terrible. I suspect I need to get an X-ray and there's some form of cartilage wear (it runs in my family). I'm wondering if it's worth getting health insurance now and even if I need to wait a while after getting it to get around any pre-existing conditions I should be able to as it's manageable for now. I'm just thinking if this is something I have to have managed for the rest of my life (physio, chiro, surgeries etc) does waiting a few weeks or months mean free treatment for the rest of my life? Does it all work like that?

Quentin

no.


You have to disclose pre existing conditions.


Insurers aren't stupid!


If your knee is "terrible" either pay for an appointment now or see your doc to get the ball rolling

dilby00

Hi Quentin - thanks for the reply. how would they work it out if I've never sought help regarding it before? And am I still right that say if I'd have got cover 5 years ago I'd be getting treatment for my knee for free for the rest of my life?

Quentin

Well.... You get free treatment via NHS. You pay your premiums for private treatment.

And your doctor will take your history. And will spot your knee has been deteriorating for some time!

dilby00

Thanks Quentin, yes I meant privately. I've never seen the doctor about my knee - its only started getting bad in the last couple of weeks. I'm questioning whether I should hold off seeing someone about it until a period of time after I get insurance.

FutureGirl

if you buy health insurance, and go to them about your knee, when they start investigating, they will see it's been deteriorating for some time. They will most likely be able to see how long it's been causing you an issue as well, just from looking at the knee.

They will most likely exclude any pre-existing issues whether diagnosed or not.

No point in lying.

Blibble

You can't take a policy out after you've noticed something going wrong, otherwise people would be doing it constantly for cheaper private healthcare!

Pre-existing conditions would be excluded; once they go through a check-up with you they'll see it's been a problem for longer than you've had the policy, therefore not covered.

dilby00

Thanks all - I suppose that was my question which I could have phrased much better. Is a condition defined as when you see a doctor about it, or is it when they can prove it started happening. So for gradual ailments that snowball and start early, based on your comments I'm assuming they turn around and say its been happening for a while.

Blibble

It would be a condition defined as when they can reasonably prove you have suffered from the ailment / issue. Stubborn people (like myself) can wait months or years before seeing a doctor so this isn't a good indicator of how long a condition has been present for.

dilby00

Thanks Blibble - that makes sense. Apologies for going round the houses.