What is private health insurance?
Private health insurance (also known as private medical insurance) is medical treatment paid for privately by an insurance policy - rather than by the NHS. Private health insurance can also include policies such as dental insurance plans and cash plans.
Private health insurance covers the costs of private medical treatment for what is commonly known as an acute condition (a disease, illness or injury that is likely to respond quickly to treatment). In general, it will not cover the treatment of long-term and incurable illnesses.
Why is private health insurance so popular?
As our lifestyles and our expectations change, more and more of us are turning to private healthcare. The National Health Service (NHS) does a very good job under difficult conditions in looking after the nation's health. Yet many people choose to go private to avoid the long waiting lists associated with some NHS treatments.
Although the NHS is making progress in reducing waiting times, at the end of September 2007 94,325 people had been waiting more than three months for in-patient treatment.* This excludes the number of people waiting for specialist consultations and diagnosis.
* Source: Commissioner based England summary ordinary and day-case admissions combined. Waiting list at the end of Q2 2007/2008.
What are the advantages of private health insurance?
As a private patient you can often choose when treatment will take place, the specialist who treats you and the hospital. You will usually have the privacy of an ensuite room complete with TV and other home comforts.
What are the advantages of the NHS?
Most treatment on the NHS is free. And you will always get treatment for an emergency or an accident at an NHS hospital. The NHS also has facilities for treating some serious conditions too, for example many types of cancer.
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