Private operation costs

Richard1212

Enigmaman said:

Yes, I definitely don't mean to knock the staff AT ALL. Or the NHS -  just being candid about some of my experiences. Part of me feels guilty about being privileged enough to afford health insurance but then again my lifestyle is pretty modest and that's the only reason I can (just) afford it.

Nothing to feel guilty about, Enigmaman. If we devised a brand new NHS blueprint now , to replace the 1940s' anachronism, I'm pretty sure private health insurance would figure largely in the new formula. 

Perksy5

I cant quite comment on your vitality cover I'm sorry but I'm extremely fortunate to have Axa via work.
I mustve run up such a deficit with them I dread to imagine my cover lasting much longer. (Can an insurer cancel an individual under a corporate plan?).
Like you, I've frequented NHS hospitals several times over the years, as emergencies several times. As a teenager/young adult 18-25 I was always guaranteed my own room.
Now, it's on a large/small ward with several others.
My most harrowing experience was a 2 bed room. It was tiny.
The gentleman next to me was very old, and his visitors had to shimmy past my bed and the small gap between that and the wall. It was horrid. Worse so, night 2 the chap died. Horrid experience as well as those many hours languishing in a trolley in the bowels of a&e.

So now, with minor treatments or ailments my private health care is a god send. I needed surgery on my feet and I had my own room and ensuite. A menu presented to me for lunch and brought with one of those silver bowl lids they lift off. Felt like royalty.
If I could help it I'd never choose to go back to NHS hospitals in its current state, the poor staff are so overworked and you just feel so helpless and an inconvenience asking for pain relief if they've missed you.

Sadly, emergencies aren't covered with my plan either. I was also desperate. once and asked about transferring from the NHS hospital to private. I'd have to arrange my own transport and a private ambulance was £500. (Yikes!)

For my follow up consultation after the feet surgery though, I was billed but my plan covers that. You could always ring them and ask for clarity if your policy isn't clear? Again I cant speak for vitality but Axa are usually very good on the phones so I'm sure Vitality can clarify for you at the least.

Enigmaman

Richard1212 said:

Enigmaman said:

Yes, I definitely don't mean to knock the staff AT ALL. Or the NHS -  just being candid about some of my experiences. Part of me feels guilty about being privileged enough to afford health insurance but then again my lifestyle is pretty modest and that's the only reason I can (just) afford it.

Nothing to feel guilty about, Enigmaman. If we devised a brand new NHS blueprint now , to replace the 1940s' anachronism, I'm pretty sure private health insurance would figure largely in the new formula. 

I suspect you're right. I can't help feeling the German system of publicly subsidised private scheme works better.

TELLIT01

We're getting off the original subject, but any attempt to bring in a health system which was based on direct payment would likely be blocked by those who believe the current NHS model can actually be made to work without major changes.

diystarter7

Hi OP

I hope it all works out for you
Rightly so you have many questions and posters have helped as you said

However, personally, now, I'd write up bullet points and call the ins outfit and put your questions to them
and ask them to confirm via email

Good luck.

Richard1212

TELLIT01 said:

We're getting off the original subject, but any attempt to bring in a health system which was based on direct payment would likely be blocked by those who believe the current NHS model can actually be made to work without major changes.

I think not. A Royal Commission ( for example) on setting up a new health service in the UK from the 2020s onwards would IMHO be most unlikely to go back to the same mistakes that have left us with a creaking and broken 1940s' NHS blueprint for far too long. I think there would be radical proposals ----for example along the lines Enigmaman has referred to ( and many other options too ). If politicians were brave enough to say "let's start all over again with a new 21st century NHS" I very much doubt we'd see much of the current anachronisms.

Enigmaman

diystarter7 said:

Hi OP

I hope it all works out for you
Rightly so you have many questions and posters have helped as you said

However, personally, now, I'd write up bullet points and call the ins outfit and put your questions to them
and ask them to confirm via email

Good luck.

diystarter7 said:

Hi OP

I hope it all works out for you
Rightly so you have many questions and posters have helped as you said

However, personally, now, I'd write up bullet points and call the ins outfit and put your questions to them
and ask them to confirm via email

Good luck.

Have done, thanks. Got some answers then was left 9n hold for 9ver 30 mins for a specialist and hung up. Will try again tomorrow. I hadn't bargained for how complicated this would be.