subject: Increasing Numbers Consider Switching To Private Care [print this page] The recent concern over the state of the NHS, has seen an alarming rise in the number of people considering taking out Private Medical Insurance (PMI) says the Consumers Association.
During its latest research, it showed that 40% of those questioned would strongly consider going private to avoid NHS waiting lists. Of these, 84% do not have existing medical insurance to fall back on.
According to the recent report made by the Consumers Association, most of those thinking about taking out private health insurance were employed and in higher socio-economic groups, but a third of the less affluent would also consider having some form of medical insurance in place.
Sally Williams of the Consumers Association said: Our survey has many lessons for the next government. It reflects badly on the NHS that so many will consider getting private medical treatment, because of the waiting time on the NHS.
Around 2,000 adults took part in the recent survey, which were a representative sample of the UK population. But those unaware of the cost of private medical could be in for a nasty shock. It has often been commented upon by Politicians, journalists and Doctors that the NHS is in a worse state now than before Labour got in. But the main thing that stops them taking out PMI is the price.
Private Medical Insurance often gets confused with the often cheaper cash plans, which are offered through companies such as the Hospital Savings Association. Whilst there is nothing wrong with these cash plans, they will only provide cash if you become ill and are nothing to do with obtaining private medical treatment.
Typically a man aged 65 could pay about 180 a month for health insurance. For someone in their 30s or 40s there are aged-capped policies that would not go up each year in line with your age, which is common amongst other plans. There has also been a growing interest in self-funding, but this can be a riskier option as no one knows how high their medical bills will be.
What Private Medical Insurance can provide that other health plans cant is peace of mind, knowing that you can get the treatment you need, when you need it, without the anxiety of waiting.
