Health Screening - is it worth it?

Zana2018

Background: It's the time of the year where I can select the benefits I receive from my employer. One of these benefits is health screenings. These are typically provided by Nuffield Health and include their 360 Health Screen and 360+ Health Screen looking at a long long list of things.

Here is a link of what the 360 Health Assessment looks at: 360 Health Assessment with Nuffield Health

My employer will cover 50% of the cost of doing one of those. But it will still cost me £195 for the 360 Health Assessment from Nuffield Health (RRP £574). I don't get any tax savings but do save on National Insurance.

I'm 30 years of age, with no ailments apart from being a bit overweight. I'm otherwise fit and healthy :j.

Question: Are health screenings worth it? It is something worth doing once every few years to see if your health is improving or getting worse? Is £195 too much (that is for the 360 Health Screening)?

Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

keithdc

Zana2018 wrote: »

Are health screenings worth it? NO

It is something worth doing once every few years to see if your health is improving or getting worse? NO

Is £195 too much (that is for the 360 Health Screening)? YES

Answers above

lessonlearned

I think that's a fair price. And yes I think it's worth doing. Although it might be worth checking first if you doctor offers anything similar. Some surgeries offer well being clinics.

If you own a car over 3 years old then you get it MOTd every year and you get it serviced when it needs it.

Why not give your body the same care and attention.

Mrsn

Whilst it seems a fair bit of money you never really know what’s going on inside you. I’m 35 and unfortunately have a couple of auto immune conditions which have meant I probably have more scans/blood tests/consultant appointments etc than someone else my age would. This year I’ve since found out my liver and spleen are enlarged, things I wouldn’t have found out without a certain amount of “screening” but now having that knowledge means I’ve no excuse to not try and look after myself better than I have been

keithdc

Mrsn wrote: »

Whilst it seems a fair bit of money you never really know what’s going on inside you. I’m 35 and unfortunately have a couple of auto immune conditions which have meant I probably have more scans/blood tests/consultant appointments etc than someone else my age would. This year I’ve since found out my liver and spleen are enlarged, things I wouldn’t have found out without a certain amount of “screening” but now having that knowledge means I’ve no excuse to not try and look after myself better than I have been

So... you had tests for a clinical reason based on a disease/ symptoms- this is totally different to screening the OP who does not have symptoms/ disease.

lessonlearned wrote: »

If you own a car over 3 years old then you get it MOTd every year and you get it serviced when it needs it.

Why not give your body the same care and attention.

Slightly bizarre example, but let's run with it. You acknowledge that in the case of an MOT, there is a recognised period when it is not needed (3 years).
It is the same with people- NHS well-man checks start at age 40 as this is the age at which some simple testing of asymptomatic individuals becomes sensible.

lessonlearned

An MOT is not needed because the car will be under warranty.

As far as I am aware the human body does not come with a warranty. :rotfl:

But I agree a non symptomatic healthy 30 year old may have no need of regular check ups. Although of course there are exceptions. My 32 year old thin as a rake fit as a fiddle son recently got a shock when they did a routine blood glucose test.

The OP asked for opinions and we have given him/her both sides of the argument.

It's now their decision.

Zana2018

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I think I'm going to hold off with having one this year but will reassess my health and situation next year and might opt in.

At the end of the day, I think it'll be worth doing once, see what I get out of it, and then I'll know for the future. It's just that right now I don't think it's necessary, it might be something I sign up to do regularly when I hit my mid-30s.